From today’s Tribune/Vindy:
3 things to watch at YSU’s spring game
LOCAL SPORTS
APR 15, 2023
JOEL WHETZEL
Staff writer
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com
YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State wraps up its spring football slate this morning as the Penguins take part in their annual Red-White Game.
The event begins at 11 a.m. at Stambaugh Stadium. Admission is free, but there is a $5 parking fee. The team will play two 20-minute halves with normal clock procedures.
Returning contributors will be dispersed between the two squads, according to YSU. Members of the offensive line will play for both teams, as will starting quarterback Mitch Davidson, who will play early on before reserves Beau Brungard (red) and Max Blanc (white) take over for the rest of the day.
The Red Team has tailback Dra Rushton, tight end Jake Benio, receiver Max Tomczak, defensive end Andres Lehrmann, linebackers Greg Benton Jr. and Keon Freeman, safety Tyjon Jones and defensive backs Amarian Robinson and Jordan Trowers.
Specialists Andrew Lastovka (kicker), John Ruh (long snapper) and Brendon Kilpatrick (punter) also are on the red team.
Receivers Bryce Oliver and Latrell Fordham highlight the White Team offense. The defense has end Dylan Wudke, linebackers Alex Howard and Devin Johnson, safeties Quincy Lenton and Marcus Hooker and defensive back/SAM D’Marco Augustin and defensive back Ezekiel Blake.
Specialists include placekickers Clay Medvec and Jonathan Schmidt, long snapper Sam Merryman and punter Kyle Walker.
Here are a few things to keep an eye on during the day:
How does the running game
look without Jaleel McLaughlin?
The biggest question facing YSU’s offense is how life without All-American running back Jaleel McLaughlin will go.
Senior Dra Rushton, a Liberty grad, is the elder statesman in the room. In fact, he’s one of only two upperclassmen, the other being Steubenville alumnus Caleb Mitchell. In reserve duties last year, Rushton tallied 329 yards and two touchdowns on 71 carries. He also fielded 11 kickoffs. In the passing game, he caught only three passes for eight yards, a marked dropoff from McLaughlin’s production (1,504 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, 16 receptions for 279 yards and two touchdowns).
But ostensibly, Rushton will assume the bell cow role.
Behind him, things feel wide open. None of the remaining tailbacks have contributed in seasons prior, making the battle for RB2 one to watch both tomorrow and into fall camp.
Beyond that, it will be interesting to see how, if at all, the style of YSU’s run game changes. McLaughlin was lightning in a bottle, but Rushton is more of a between-the-tackles runner.
Asking any of the current rostered tailbacks to feature the home run capabilities McLaughlin had wouldn’t be fair — McLaughlin was a generational tailback with unparalleled speed. As such, how YSU attacks on the ground may look a little different.
How will the reserve QBs perform?
Mitch Davidson is clearly the main man under center, but Springfield grad Beau Brungard and Bethal Park, Pa., native Max Blanc are still unproven, having redshirted in 2022.
Blanc stands at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and is a more traditional passer, while Brungard, as local high school football fans know, is more dual-threat.
They also both come in with impressive high school credentials. Blanc was a Class 5A Allegheny Six All-Conference Second Team selection his senior year, having thrown for 1,348 yards and 11 touchdowns on 97 completions.
Brungard, of course, had an illustrious career at Springfield. As a senior, Brungard was the Division VI All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Ohio selection after going 112-for-159 for 1,779 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also ran 147 times for 1,754 yards and 32 scores.
The battle of experience … and inexperience
Perhaps the most exciting thing as YSU concludes its spring and begins to prepare for the fall slate is just how much experience comes back.
Davidson and pretty much his entire cast of receivers are back together, the offensive and defensive lines are mostly still intact, as are the linebacking corps and secondary.
With returning starters abounding for each squad today, it will be interesting to see how that translates in terms of making plays and chemistry.
It also makes the battles behind them interesting. YSU prides itself on being a developmental program, and there are plenty of youngsters on roster out to prove themselves. Could someone emerge as a key player out of this game and moving into fall?
We’ll get that answer and others this morning.
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com
