Correspondent file photo / Robert Hayes YSU receiver Lynn Wyche-El (13) attempts to elude defensive back Cam Smith during the Red-White Spring Game last weekend at Stambaugh Stadium.

By NEEL MADHAVAN

Staff writer

YOUNGSTOWN — With the Red-White spring game now in the rearview mirror, Youngstown State can close the books on spring football practice as it inches towards the 2026 season this fall.

YSU had plenty of roster continuity heading into spring, but the Penguins still had competition and position battles occurring at several key spots, particularly in the secondary, at receiver and at backup quarterback.

While YSU found some clarity at those positions over the past few weeks, the coaching staff indicated that most of those battles will largely continue into fall camp.

“We have a lot of competition. We have a lot of guys that can play, and it comes up to who’s going to take it,” head coach Doug Phillips said. “I’d say coming out of spring ball, that won’t be determined until we get to August.”

SECONDARY

Most of YSU’s entire starting secondary from 2025 is gone. But due to the Penguins’ struggles with their pass defense last year, that group required a lot of changes, especially with new defensive coordinator Ryan Riemedio now in the fold.

Two returners, six transfers and a few younger players are all in the mix at defensive back.

Jussiah Williams-West and Jordan Rudolph have each seen playing time in the past. Williams-West played last year before getting hurt, while Rudolph played in 2024 before missing last year with an injury. Neither dressed during the spring game, however, as they both continue to work their way back from their injuries.

Transfer additions Cam Smith (Iowa State), Raleigh Collins III (New Hampshire), Darvens Tunis (Shippensburg), Stanley Clyne (Cincinnati) and Dev Holman (Butler) all saw snaps with the first-team defense during the spring game.

Transfer Julius Jackson (Washburn) and returning sophomores Ross Davidson and Brandon Chambers are also expected to contribute at defensive back. Davidson had an interception in the second half last weekend.

“I think the corner room, just the physicality they play with, I think you see it in these Saturday scrimmages,” Phillips said. “With Dev Holman, Julius Jackson, Darvens Tunis and even Brandon Chambers, there’s depth there. And I thought those guys played physical this spring.”

WIDE RECEIVER

After last season, YSU lost five of its top-six receiving targets to graduation and the transfer portal.

So coming into spring, the Penguins had two returners at receiver in RK Dandridge and Fresh Walters, who were competing for starting spots with seven transfer additions and a handful of younger players.

“Good competition. We’ve got a lot of depth. We feel really good about where we’re at,” offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said. “We gotta continue to grow. But I like what I’ve seen. Guys are catching on really well. They’re smart.”

Dandridge sustained an injury in the spring that required surgery and could jeopardize his chances of playing this upcoming season. Findlay transfer Bryan Hunt also broke his hand during spring, but Phillips said he’ll be back for fall.

Transfer receivers Dorian Williams (Ohio State), Lynn Wyche-El (Grand Valley State) and Lorenzo Jenkins (Bethune-Cookman) all took snaps with the first-team offense during the spring game. Williams caught a three-yard touchdown from Brungard early in the spring game and had six catches for 61 yards, while Wyche-El finished with four catches for 57 yards.

Redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sanders has also shown growth, getting snaps with the first-team offense, which included hauling in a three-yard diving touchdown from Brungard in the spring game.

“Any kind of connection with your receivers, it’s going to take a lot of reps, a lot of film study. But I’m thankful that those guys are very mature, they’re willing to learn and they’re hungry to grow,” Brungard said. “They’re a great group of guys who want to be really good. We have experienced good growth, but it’s going to take a great summer and a great fall camp, and I’m excited to see what they can do in the season.”

Yurcich also complimented true freshmen Sirr Gibson and Zion Neal for what they’ve shown in the spring. Both were part of YSU’s 2026 recruiting class and enrolled early in January.

“Everybody seems like they have a relatively higher football IQ,” Yurcich said. “There’s really not a lot of mistakes being made. For the most part, we’re on the same page. There’s chemistry involved, so that’s part of it.”

BACKUP QB

Returning two-year starter and reigning Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Beau Brungard is back. But YSU still needs to ensure that it finds a backup that can operate the offense effectively should Brungard go down.

“It’s about establishing a system and making sure that we can win football games without him. That’s my goal,” Yurcich said. “Are we building this offense? Am I coaching the quarterbacks well enough to where we can win with our No. 2, our No. 3? We’re not close to that. But that’s the goal.”

Between Brungard, true freshmen Shane Cole and Cason Diiulio, redshirt freshmen Zebulin Kinsey and Malachi Lewis and sophomore Colin Seibert, the Penguins came into the spring with six quarterbacks. However, they will add one more this summer with Jonny Evanchick, a late Class of 2026 addition.

“I coach them hard. I coach them extremely hard, so I think they’re a little bit ‘shock and awe’ right now and still getting used to how I coach,” Yurcich said. “But it’s sink or swim, man. They gotta grow up, and they gotta grow up fast. So we’ll see.”

During the spring game, Kinsey, Lewis and Cole all had chances to lead multiple offensive possessions. But Cole was the only one to lead a scoring drive that resulted in points, marching 70 yards for a two-yard Da’Shaun Whatley touchdown run during the opening drive of the second half.

Cole led the three reserve quarterbacks statistically, completing six passes for 61 yards, while rushing for 27 yards on four carries.

However, no one seems to have taken hold of the job yet. Yucich isn’t satisfied with what he’s seen from the reserve quarterbacks thus far and still wants to see more from them come summer and fall.

“I wish somebody would step up. Right now, nobody’s stepping up,” Yurcich said. “They all have their unique traits. I’m putting pressure on those guys, and I want somebody to rise above and show me that they’re capable of stepping into a game and that we have full trust in them. Right now, I’m not sure who that is, and I’m going to continue to put pressure on these guys.”

INJURY UPDATE

A handful of players didn’t dress for the spring game on both sides of the ball due to injuries.

On offense, that included Dandridge, Hunt and tight end Michael Manna. While Dandridge is looking at an extended absence that could affect his availability in the fall, Manna’s status was more day-to-day and should be set for the summer.

The defense dealt with several notable injury absences this spring, including Williams-West, Rudolph, linebacker Carston Marshall and defensive linemen Ebony Curry Jr., Ajayi Ajaga and Thomas Jolly.

Some were banged up during spring practice or had surgery after the 2025 season to repair various ailments, while others were still rehabbing and recovering from injuries sustained during the season. However, Phillips noted that they’re all on track to return either this summer or fall.

“Our trainer introduced them at the last practice, said, ‘These guys have done everything they needed to do. Guess what? They’re going to reclaim their positions when it comes this summer,'” Phillips said. “So they’ve done everything necessary to get back, rehab and be healthy. A lot of them are going through individual [workouts], they’re just not at contact right now. So when we get to full strength, I’ll be really happy.”

Now that spring is over, the Penguins will finish the semester and finals the rest of this month, before having some time off in May. Then, they’ll be back June 1 to begin summer workouts ahead of fall camp in August.