YSU lineman Aidan Parker comfortable with switch back to his natural position at center
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YOUNGSTOWN -- For the most part, Aidan Parker says his transition to center has been "really smooth."
After all, the Youngstown State junior spent his high school career at Westfield (Ind.) playing the position before arriving to YSU and moving to guard to help facilitate depth at a position that lacked it.
Upon the graduation of starter Mike McAllister, Parker found his way back to the spot with which he's most familiar.
"When Mike left, it was always kind of known that I was going back to center," Parker explained. "So I worked there in spring ball and kind of eased myself into it, and the transition has been really smooth ever since those first couple days of spring ball."
McAllister, of course, leaves big shoes to fill, having started his final 28 games at center as part of a three-year career with the Penguins. He was named to the All-Missouri Valley Second Team in 2022 before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Rams.
But, Parker noted, playing alongside McAllister as YSU's starting left guard allowed him to learn from one of the program's best.
"I learned a lot from him -- how to study defenses, things to pick up on, and I'm reading defenses pre-snap. So I think in that way, he taught me a lot," Parker said.
So far, offensive coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler says, Parker is fitting into his new role just as expected.
"It was a matter of putting his knowledge to work, and now he's got to communicate a lot more," Rothenbuhler said. "He's done a phenomenal job. He's the leader of that group, and talks by far the most, which is what we expect out of our center."
Head coach Doug Phillips added, "That's his natural position. ... For us, it was just a natural move to put him down there. He's smart, he's intelligent, hard-working. The thing is you have to block and snap, and he can snap the ball. I'm excited to see it, because I think that's his best position."
Aiding in Parker's transition, too, is the sheer experience of YSU's offensive line. To Parker's right, RJ Johnson and Jaison Williams fill in at guard and tackle, respectively. The latter was an All-MVFC honorable mention a season ago and an All-MVFC Preseason First Team selection entering the 2023 campaign, while the former was a starter in 10 games last season.
Meanwhile, to Parker's immediate left is David Metzler, who shifted from left tackle to fill Parker's void at left guard. At left tackle, the Penguins have given redshirt freshman Desmeal Leigh and redshirt sophomore EJ Johnson the opportunity to battle for snaps, with Leigh garnering the majority of first-team reps.
"That's helped a lot," Parker said of the line's experience. "David's playing next to me again, and we have that chemistry, and then RJ and I have been playing on the same line, so our communication's been good and (Williams) as well. I'm not playing directly next to him, but we've all been playing together (for a couple seasons) so being on the same page is pretty easy."
Meanwhile, of Leigh's emergence at left tackle, he added, "He's young and had to learn a little bit early on, but he's progressed every day, which has been good to see. He listens really well, he's able to adjust really well, and he's freaky athletic. I don't know how many 6-8, 320-pound guys can move like him. He's very athletic, very coachable, and we're really excited about him."
For Phillips, the job now becomes identifying the depth pieces to bolster those ranks. He identifies Van Keen as the backup center, Joe Sferra at right guard and Shane Keenan at right tackle. Phillips added that YSU's staff would like to identify upward of 10-12 players, but that finding and solidifying eight is a priority and some of the depth pieces can move around between various positions.
"To have that depth, we're excited about it," Phillips added.
All the while, Rothenbuhler says the expectations up front continue to rise.
"For the offensive line as a whole, we have big expectations," he said. "They've got experience. We've got some guys with a lot of experience who have played in the system for a while, and now they should be able to make the adjustments."
KICKER UNDECIDED
Placekicker is still up for grabs between Clay Medvec and Andrew Lastovka, and Phillips notes it's a battle that likely will last into the regular season.
"Neither of them has kicked in a college game," Phillips noted. "Some days, one is ahead of the other. For us, that's going to continue into the season. They're both going to have opportunities to play, and hopefully as we get through games, one can rise to the top. But right now, it's a heated competition."
CASTLEBERRY EARNS SCHOLARSHIP
Sophomore defensive back Jaylen Castleberry was put on scholarship at Wednesday morning's practice. Castleberry, a St. Edward's grad and transfer from Tiffin, did not play in 2022.
"Everyone's journey is different," Phillips said. "He had some struggles. ... He had to work through some academic things, which he has, and he's really shown us on the field. We knew in the spring the talent he had coming into the program, but again, what you do on the field and what you do off the field matters to us. ... So just excited that we can help him, and he's definitely earned it."
jwhetzel@tribtoday.com