Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes. YSU tailback Tahir Mills carries the ball during the Penguins’ second fall intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 16 at Stambaugh Stadium.

YOUNGSTOWN — When Youngstown State brought in new offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich before spring practice, the Penguins molded their offensive approach to be “more multiple” in the run game.

That reinforces the idea of continuing to put the running back position at the forefront of what YSU wants to do offensively, and this season, that position is more open than it has been in recent years.

“You need several running backs to win, I believe,” Yurcich said. “I think they’re all a little bit different in their own right. Some guys may specialize in certain things that we ask them to do, but we’ll try to make sure that we also carry a back and allow him to get rhythm. Sometimes you have to let a guy get a few carries and get that rhythm and flow going and the vision and those sorts of things. There’s a rhythm to the pass game, and there’s a rhythm to the run game.”

YSU’s leading returning rusher is Ethan Wright, who ran for 677 yards and four touchdowns on 136 carries last year. But Wright sustained a season-ending lower body injury against Southern Illinois last season and missed the final game against Northern Iowa.

He spent most of the offseason rehabbing and recovering and has just returned to doing non-contact on-field work in recent weeks during fall camp.

The team is hoping his progress continues on schedule and that he can possibly return to game action sometime during the season. Despite his absence on the field, Yurcich has praised Wright’s poise and leadership on the team.

“He’s an incredible story. I really want to see him live in action because I haven’t seen him yet and I really like him as a person,” Yurcich said. “This would be a special season for him. I can’t wait to see him get back into it. He’s on track and he’s on schedule and he looks great. He’s one of the best leaders we have on offense, and he’s got a great personality. He’s just a lot of fun to be around, and I can’t wait to see him be productive and help us win games.”

In Wright’s absence, senior transfer Tahir Mills and redshirt sophomore Jaden Gilbert have received the bulk of the carries with the first-team offense in camp.

Mills ran for 855 yards and eight touchdowns on 149 carries in 12 games at Division II East Stroudsburg last year, while Gilbert had 117 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries for the Penguins last season.

Mills said the offensive system he was part of with the Warriors had a lot of similarities to what Yurcich has installed at YSU this offseason. That made the move and the transition all the more easier for him.

“I love learning and just learning the offense. I love the scheme and what we’re trying to do here,” Mills said. “I think with everything we do, it all complements each other. So I’m excited just to see what this year’s going to be like.”

With his build and running style, Mills fits a similar type of back that YSU has used in recent seasons like Dra Rushton, while Gilbert might draw comparisons to Tyshon King with his size and speed.

“We all have a different running style,” Gilbert said. “Some of us are able to get out in space, make people miss with our speed. Then the others are big backs that are able to get physical, lower the pads and just run through somebody. So it’s very versatile.”

Gilbert added that King took him under his wing while he was in Youngstown and helped foster his growth that put him in the position he finds himself in now.

“Definitely picked up a lot from Tyshon. He was like a big brother to me,” Gilbert said. “He taught me the ins and outs, even the little things when it comes to pass protection, just little things you gotta do to take that next step being a running back.”

But YSU also has several other viable options at running back.

Like Gilbert, redshirt junior Da’Shaun Whatley also saw carries for the Penguins last year. Plus, the coaching staff has high hopes for a pair of local products in junior Ohio State transfer and Hubbard alum TC Caffey, along with redshirt freshman and Niles product Antuan Gardner.

All those options don’t even include returning starting quarterback Beau Brungard’s ability to make plays with his legs after he led the team in rushing last year.

“Everybody in the room has been working super hard,” running backs coach Justin Heacock said. “Some older guys, some younger guys, but there’s been great competition throughout spring ball then throughout fall camp. There’s been a lot of great competition and everybody’s been getting reps and has been able to showcase what they can do.”