YOUNGSTOWN — Last season, Youngstown State’s defensive identity was based around its front seven.
The Penguins’ group of defensive linemen and linebackers made their living getting into opposing backfields to harass the quarterback and stop the run. As a result, YSU was 10th in the FCS in rush defense and 13th in total sacks.
Despite significant attrition this offseason on the depth chart, the Penguins are again hoping to maintain that same defensive identity as they prepare for the 2024 season heading into the final week of spring practice.
“We always gotta stop the run first,” defensive coordinator and linebackers coach John Haneline said after practice on Tuesday. “That’s this conference, that’s college football. Studies have shown that if you win the run game, you’re winning probably about 70-80% of your games — the passing battle, you’re winning about 40-50%. So that’s going to be the mentality, and with the transition of new guys, the biggest thing is teaching them how to make those plays.”
Of the 11 defensive players that started YSU’s season finale against Villanova in the fall, just one remains on the roster — cornerback Jaylen Castleberry — whether that’s due to the transfer portal, graduation and/or completing their collegiate eligibility.
The pieces are there, whether it be depth players that saw significant playing time last season like junior defensive end Dawan Martin or newcomers like Tiffin transfer linebacker Antonio O’Berry, but now the Penguins have to find the best fits to retool and rebuild the defense.
“I always tell the guys during the first spring meeting, we need 22 starters because we’re going to be heavily involved in special teams and all those things,” Haneline said.
On the defensive line, Martin is a player that the coaches have been particularly high on with his length on the outside edge. He played in all 13 of YSU’s games, registering 13.0 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
The coaching staff expects his role to increase drastically this season, especially considering the leadership strides that he’s made, according to Haneline.
“I really love what Dawan Martin is doing, just from a technique and fundamental (standpoint),” head coach Doug Phillips said. “He’s a guy that’s played football, but he’s going to play a lot more football. Instead of playing maybe 20-22 snaps per game, he’s going to have to play 40. To see his technique and his fundamentals this spring is the best I’ve seen of him.”
Elsewhere on the defensive front, junior Deamontae Diggs has shifted from defensive tackle out to defensive end, while seniors Jaelen Crider and Hunter Allen are also competing for spots on the defensive line. Like Martin, Haneline also noted that Michael Voitus is filling a leadership void. Voitus saw time on special teams last year, but is another name in the mix on the defensive front.
But transfer additions O’Berry and Jabarrek Hopkins, from Marshall, are each fully in the mix on the defensive line, as well.
“These new guys — they were brought in to stagger those classes and play and do that stuff,” Haneline said. “They’ve shown growth from the first practice. Everything’s new for the new guys, like going to class and doing all those things. It’s all new, so they’ve done a great job just adapting into the culture.”
YSU likely incurred its most significant personnel losses at linebacker with the departures of Alex Howard, Greg Benton Jr. and D’Marco Augustin.
But junior Devin Johnson, senior Logan Pasco and sophomore Mike Wells are each back after getting snaps in reserve roles last season. Plus, the Penguins added Iowa State transfer Carston Marshall to also compete for a spot.
Haneline notes that players like junior Preston Zandier and senior Keon Freeman will also likely see their roles expand at linebacker.
“Devin Johnson is a guy who’s played a ton of football and he’s now learning how to control a game, identify things and take his game to the next level,” Haneline said. “Lining up out there, we know Devin knows the defense, he knows that in and out. But it’s about getting him to a level of communication with other guys and seeing things (out there). Alex Howard leaves and it gives Mike Wells a great opportunity to take strides. Then Logan Pasco, Keon Freeman and Preston Zandi — there’s been a lot of growth in the linebacker room.”
At the start of spring, the secondary looked like the group that had the most returning experience. But after cornerback Troy Jakubec put his name in the transfer portal Tuesday, that experience has decreased.
However, Castleberry returns at the other cornerback spot, in addition to Amarian Robinson at free safety, and the team’s leading returning tackler, strong safety Tyjon Jones, is back in the secondary. Also, according to the Penguins’ roster, Latrell Fordham has made the switch from offense to defense, moving from receiver to defensive back.
Like Martin, Jones is someone that has received a good deal of praise from the coaches.
“The key going into spring was focus and discipline, and I’m seeing that from our safeties,” Phillips said. “Tyjon Jones has had the best spring he’s had since I’ve been here. It’s not just athletic ability, but his focus and his leadership has really gone to the next level, and I want to continue to see that.”
Even with all the competition at almost every position, things still remain very much in flux for the defense. After the spring game on Saturday, YSU still has to go through another portal cycle, summer lifts and workouts and then fall camp in August.
Most, if not all, of the starting spots on defense likely won’t be determined or finalized until well into August.
“It’s still a learning process,” Phillips said. “I think we have talented players, it’s just putting it all together. A lot of guys are doing a lot of thinking. You can tell, the minute they grasp those types of knowledge, they’re going to play a lot faster then what they’re playing right now. … Be prepared now because when you get that opportunity, you gotta make the most of it.
“So we’re at that point going into the last week (of spring) that a lot of guys are fighting to earn a position in this program. That’s the part of spring I love. You see young guys mature and you’re seeing young guys grasp it in this last week. I want to see them hit the film rooms a little longer, so that come Saturday, they can play fast.”
