Let's Go Guins!

Monday, 08 February 2010 14:49

Despite a disappointing 8-14 season, the Penguins will look to save its season Thursday Evening as they host the #15 team in America, the Butler Bulldogs. Butler comes in on a roll, winning twelve games in a row and remaining undefeated at 13-0 in the Horizon League.

The Bulldogs will host Loyola on Monday Evening before taking on the Penguins on Thursday. Game Time is 7:05pm at Beeghly Center. It is a 'Dollar Day' with $1 GA tickets, hot dogs, and popcorn available for everyone that comes out.

Good Luck Penguins!

2010 YSU Football Recruiting Class

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 00:00

Here is an article on the entire 2010 Youngstown State Football Recruiting Class. It is worth mentioning that we are expecting quite a few transfers from FBS/I-A schools to transfer to YSU this summer.

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1. Allen Jones
Youngstown, OH | Youngstown Ursuline High School
5'10" 190 Pounds | RB

Allen Jones is a three year starter from one of Ohio's top high school football programs, Ursuline High School. Jones rushed for over 4,400 yards in his career with the Irish, making him the All-Time Leading Rusher in Ursuline High School history. Jones led the Irish to three straight OHSAA Division V State Championship appearances in 2007, 2008, and 2009, coming away with two straight state titles in 2008 and 2009.

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2. Meiko Locksley
Albuquerque, NM | La Cueva High School
6'2" 185 Pounds | QB

Meiko Locksley is the son of New Mexico Head Coach Mike Locksley, who was an assistant at Illinois when Coach Wolford was there. Locksley is one recruit in this class with multiple FBS offers; those being to New Mexico, New Mexico State, and Colorado State. Scout.com rated him the #2 recruit out of New Mexico stating, "Locksley is your ideal spread option QB. He has good speed, great feet, and a very strong arm. Like many strong armed QB’s, he tends to zip everything and needs to work on more touch, however has every tool to play QB at the next level; not only in a spread offense but also in a pro style offense. Is also athletic enough to play FS at the next level. Definite D-I player."

3. Donald D'Alesio
Youngstown, OH | Cardinal Mooney High School
5'11" 180 Pounds | CB

Donald D'Alesio was a three year starter at defensive back for one of the top high school football programs in the United States, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney High School. While at Cardinal Mooney, D'Alesio was fortunate enough to play in three OHSAA State Championship games. Like RB Allen Jones, D'Alesio won two state titles; a Division IV state title in 2006 and a Division III state title in 2009. In 2007, D'Alesio's Cardinals lost 28-27 in the Division IV state title to Coldwater. Rivals.com ranked him the 16th best CB in Ohio.

4. Eric Page
Newton Falls, OH | Newton Falls High School
6'4" 235 Pounds | DE

Eric Page is an All-American Conference First-Team selection in 2009 as a defensive end for Newton Falls High School. Page is a tall kid, standing at 6'4". Page is the center on the NFHS basketball team and is known for his ability to make big tackles on the gridiron. Eric Wolford plans on red-shirting Page this upcoming season so he could tack on about 20 more pounds to prepare him for the college game.

5. Jordan Thompson
West Chester, OH | Lakota West High School
6'0" 195 Pounds | RB

Playing in the shadows one of the best recruits in America, Jordan Hicks (Texas Commit), Thompson never got the spotlight he truly deserved at Lakota West High School. This past season, Thompson rushed for over 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns and was named an All-District Selection in the very deep and talented Cincinnati region of the state. Many believed Thompson was the driving force behind the 9-2 Firebird offense this past season. Besides the offer to YSU, Thompson was also offered by Memphis of the Conference USA.

6. Nathan Adams
Newark, OH | Newark Catholic High School
6'4" 225 Pounds | TE

Nathan Adams is a tight end from Newark Catholic High School. A National Honors Society member, Nate is a solid performer on the playing field and in the classroom. This past season at Newark Catholic, one of the top Division VI schools in Ohio, Adams made 38 receptions for 732 yards and 9 touchdowns. Adams was the team MVP this past season and was a First-Team All-District and All-Region selection.

7. Patrick Angle
Logan, OH | Logan High School
6'1" 195 Pounds | QB

Patrick Angle is an under-recruited quarterback from Logan High School down in Southeast Ohio, about 30 minutes WNW of Ohio University. Angle led the Chieftains to a 11-1 campaign on the 2009 season, before falling in the second round to Columbus Brookhaven. In his two years as starting quarterback at Logan High School, Angle completed 372 of his 688 passes for 6,042 yards and 51 touchdowns, all while tossing just 16 interceptions. Angle also rushed for 975 yards on 266 carries and 15 touchdowns as the starter. In 2009, Angle was a finalist for the Mr. Ohio Football award and was named first-team All-Ohio Division II.

8. Chris Elkins
Beaver Falls, PA | Beaver Falls High School
6'6" 255 Pounds | OL

Chris Elkins is a two-way linemen that was captain of his squad at Beaver Falls High School in Western Pennsylvania. The only stats we could find had Elkins averaging 3.5 tackles a game in the 2009 campaign. Elkins was a second-team All-Pennsylvania selection in Class AA.

9. Thomas Sprague
Gainesville, GA | Gainesville High School
6'0" 215 Pounds | LB

Thomas Sprague is a standout linebacker from Gainesville High School in Georgia. This past season, Sprague helped to lead the Red Elephants to a 14-1 season, losing in the Class AAA State Championship game 13-12 to Peach County. On the year, Sprague had 180 tackles for Gainesville High School. The year before, Sprague had 173 tackles for North Hall High School in Georgia. Sprague was named the Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year this past Christmas for his efforts in the 2009 season.

10. Eric Franklin
Youngstown, OH | Cardinal Mooney High School
6'7" 300 Pounds | OL/DL

Eric Franklin, according to the scouting websites, is the biggest recruit, not just size wise, Eric Wolford signed in the 2010 recruiting class. Rivals and ESPN rates Franklin a 3-Star prospect, while Scout rates him a 2-Star prospect. Despite offers to Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Purdue, and even some MAC Schools, Franklin chose to stay home as he looks to be apart of the YSU resurgence under Coach Wolford.

11. Zach Larson
Youngstown, OH | Cardinal Mooney High School
6'3" 290 Pounds | OL

Zach Larson is another big recruit from Cardinal Mooney High School here in Youngstown. This past season for the Division III State Champion Mooney Cardinals, Larson was named First Team All-Ohio in Division III and was named to the Big 22 "5 Blocks of Granite Team". Larson was known for creating big holes for Cardinal Mooney running backs Braylon Heard (Nebraska) and Ray Vinopal (Michigan) this past season.

12. Ali Cheaib
Dunedin, FL | Dunedin High School
6'1" 205 Pounds | LB

Ali Cheaib is the first Florida commitment for Eric Wolford and his staff. Cheaib comes in as an ESPN and Scout 2-Star prospect and is ranked the 6th best inside linebacker in all of Florida. In 2009, Cheaib suffered a few injuries which kept him off the field for much of the season. In 2008, he was named to the Florida 5A (Big School) Honorable Mention 'team' and was Dunedin's MVP.

13. Jamarious Boatwright
Largo, FL | Largo High School
5'9" 167 Pounds

Jamarious Boatwright is a smaller recruit, but like they say, "big things call in small packages" Boatwright's high school coach Rick Rodriguez says Jamarious is an excellent student that is just as good on the football field. This past season, Jamarious had 8 interceptions, two of which he returned for six. In the final weeks of the recruiting period, Iowa took a big interest in Jamarious.

14. Grant Mayes
West Orange, NJ | Seton Hall Prep Academy | Syracuse University
6'0" 178 Pounds | CB

Grant Mayes is a Syracuse University transfer that sought to be a Penguin when he found out he would be coached by one of the legendary Stoops brothers, Ron, who is the YSU secondary coach. A Rivals and Scout 3-Star prospect, Mayes played two years at Syracuse, where he did not get the playing time he had hoped for. Prior to committing to the Orangemen in 2008, Mayes had offers to Michigan State, Illinois, Cincinnati, and Temple. In 2008, ESPN ranked him the #1 cornerback to come out of New Jersey.

15. Andrew Sinko
Strongsville, OH | Strongsville High School
6'4" 255 Pounds | OL

We will have more information on the following recruit this evening.

16. Michael Shope
Kettering, OH | Kettering Fairmont High School
6'4" 270 Pounds | OL

We will have more information on the following recruit this evening.

17. Jean May
Worthington, OH | Worthington Kilbourne High School
6'5" 250 Pounds | OL

18. Kevin Watts
Middletown, OH | Middletown High School
5'11" 200 Pounds | ATH

We will have more information on the following recruit this evening.

BREAKING: 21WFMJ reports Wolford expects to sign 19-20 recruits today.

We will add any other recruits/transfers throughout the day when we get official word that they have signed with YSU. Also, join the debate in the LetsGoGuins Forums as to whether this recruiting class is good enough to get YSU back into the FCS Playoffs.