By John Ostapowicz
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – With his team’s opener fast approaching, Doug Phillips, head coach of Youngstown State University’s football team, is looking to build on a strong 2023 season.
The Penguins last year earned their first postseason appearance since 2016 and advanced to the second round of the Football Championship Series playoffs with a 40-7 win over Duquesne on Nov. 25 at Stambaugh Stadium.
The team’s postseason ambitions were cut short on Dec. 2 with a 45-28 loss to Villanova University.
With Phillips in his fifth year at the helm, the Penguins will open the 2024 season Aug. 29 with a road-game rematch against Villanova.
YSU posted an 8-5 record last season, finishing fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with a 5-3 mark.
The latest MVFC preseason poll, released July 20, predicts the Penguins will finish seventh this year.
The drop in the rankings can be attributed to the program’s loss of over 50 players, who left because of graduation or via the NCAA transfer portal.
Defensively, Youngstown State lost most of its depth and size in the backfield as well as on the defensive front but was able to recruit and elevate current players to fill positional needs.
Senior defensive back Troy Jakubec, whose four interceptions led the team last season, left for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while standout senior linebacker Alex Howard transferred to Texas A&M.
Other key defensive losses include senior defensive lineman Chris Fitzgerald, graduate student defensive lineman Anthony Johnson and redshirt seniors Dylan Wudke and Quincy Lenton, who took their talents to Football Bowl Series programs.
The offense also looks different this season, with the graduations of former Penguins quarterback Mitch Davidson, who threw for over 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns; wide receiver Bryce Olvier, who broke the school record for career rushing touchdowns; and tailback Dra Rushton, who ran for 664 yards on 163 attempts and scored nine touchdowns.
Another core player who left the program, was senior C.J. Charleston, who transferred to the University of Michigan. He ended the 2023 season with 33 receptions for 467 yards and four touchdowns.
In return, Youngstown State added 14 transfers and 23 freshmen for the 2024 season.
Both local and national talent joined the program over the offseason, most notably at the quarterback position with junior Brady Shannon from the University of Central Florida.
The wide receiver corps at Youngstown State features several returners from last year’s squad with senior Latrell Fordham and juniors Max Tomczak, Luke Hensley, Matt Reardon and Daryan Bowling. New competition also joins the receiving corps with senior Jawon Hall from Slippery Rock University and redshirt freshman Richard Dandridge from Temple University.
A trio of much needed transfers helped bolster the defense with junior defensive lineman Joe Brown from the University of Northern Colorado, junior defensive back DJ Harris from Tiffin University and senior defensive lineman Tyler Bukur from Marian University (Indiana).
At Marian, Bukur earned Mid-States Football Association Midwest League first-team honors for his career-high 50 tackles to go along with two sacks, a fumble recovery, an interception and a blocked kick.
Local freshmen talent also bolstered the roster this offseason, with the addition of defensive tackle Nick Bowser from Hubbard High School, tailback Antuan Gardner from Niles McKinley High School and long snapper George Gabriel from Cardinal Mooney High School.
Although there are several new faces on the team, Phillips says the amount of talent on the field will mean competition at all positions.
“What’s fun is we always say, ‘iron sharpens iron.’ I can’t tell you right now who’s going to be our starting corner, safety or defensive line,” Phillips says. “With the competition, you have to come ready to play each and every day and that’s how you really take that next step to becoming a championship program.”
The team will look drastically different on both sides of the ball as the 2024 campaign begins. However, the program returns notable veteran experience with players such as senior tailback Tyshon King, senior offensive lineman Jaison Williams, junior linebacker Devin Johnson, senior defensive end Hunter Allen and sophomore kicker Andrew Lastovka.
Johnson is expected to play a key role on both special teams and at the linebacker position. Last season he recorded 238 snaps on special teams and played in all 13 games. Johnson also doubled as a reserve linebacker, where he tallied 18 tackles.
With the new additions to the team over the offseason, Johnson says staying connected both on and off the field is crucial to team and leadership building as well as getting acclimated to one another.
“It’s about buying into your role,” he says. “Last year I had more of a role in special teams than I did on defense. This year I still want to have the role in special teams.”
Johnson says the team leaders this year are focusing on connectivity and building relationships more than in the past.
Youngstown State has garnered attention from the MVFC for its offseason actions. Five players earned preseason All-MVFC accolades. King received a spot on the first team for his contribution of over 1,000 yards on the ground last season.
Williams also earned a spot on the MVFC first team and was named to the preseason Third-Team All-American by Stats Perform and tabbed preseason Second-Team All American by FCS Football Central. At right tackle, Williams started all 13 games and was graded as Youngstown State’s top offensive lineman in 2023.
Tomczak was a second-team selection, with 56 receptions for 669 yards and a touchdown last season. Long snapper Sam Merryman and Lastovka were named preseason honorable mentions.
Lastovka was 17-of-20 on field goal attempts and went 13-of-14 from under 40 yards. He also had a walk-off game-winner against Illinois State University.
During the 2024 season the Penguins will appear twice as the MVFC “Game of the Week” on ESPN+. The first appearance is set for Sept. 28 at Missouri State University and the second on Nov. 16 at Stambaugh Stadium against the University of Northern Iowa.
YSU officially opens the season at 6 p.m. Aug. 29 at Villanova Stadium in Villanova, Pa. The game can be heard on 570 WKBN.
YSU will return to Youngstown for the home opener at 2 p.m. Sept. 7, against Valparaiso at Stambaugh Stadium. The matchup marks the second consecutive home opener against the Beacons. Last season, Youngstown State grabbed its first win of the season against Valpo, 52-10.
Tickets for home games can be purchased at the YSU ticket office or online through the YSU athletics website.
Pictured at top: Doug Phillips, head coach of the Youngstown State University football team, leads players in a practice to gear up for the season. The first game will be Aug. 29.