YSU hopes to continue offensive success with Yurcich, Brungard and other returners
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Towards the end of fall camp, position battles finally started to settle and Youngstown State's offense worked to fine-tune execution as much as possible.
With record-breaking quarterback Beau Brungard back under offensive coordinator Mike Yurich, the Penguins are looking to continue their success on that side of the ball with a plethora of returners as they head into the 2026 season.
"I guess right now, we're trying to install as much offense as possible," Yurcich said. "You're still trying to evaluate personnel along the way and teach the fundamentals and basics of the offense. The more football offensively you can get good at, the harder you're going to be to defend, but there's a fine line where it's information overload, so it's a lot of whole-part-whole.
"Then as you end camp, you just try to shrink it and get really skilled at the things that you feel good at already. That's what you need to make you more of a well-rounded, balanced offense with regards to not just run and pass, but who you're trying to distribute the ball to. So making sure we're spreading the field, we're attacking every blade of grass, but also being very technical and sound fundamentally, those are the things that we're really trying to rein in right now."
With most of the returning offense having a significant degree of comfort and familiarity within the system, Brungard said YSU added some new plays and packages throughout the offseason.
While Yurcich was coy about getting too in-depth on the schematic additions, he said the Penguins "enhanced" the offense in a multitude of different ways.
"You're always trying to research and develop," Yurcich said. "I think if you ever stay stagnant and think you've got it figured out, that's when you know bad things are going to happen. You're going to get caught from behind. So just like in any business, you gotta stay one step ahead of the competition."
Personnel-wise, Yurcich feels YSU's depth across the offense is better this season than it was last year.
Even with all the new faces out wide, receiver is one of those spots where the Penguins have built additional depth.
Transfer newcomers Bryan Hunt, Lorenzo Jenkins, Connor Smith, Lynn Wyche-El and Dorian Williams each bring different skillsets to the position. Williams, Smith and Jenkins give YSU some much-needed size and range out wide that it has lacked in recent years. Plus, Wyche-El and Hunt add playmaking ability in the slot.
But the newcomers aren't the only ones expected to contribute at receiver. Returners Jeremiah Sanders and Fresh Walters have each drawn praise from the coaches for their development during the offseason.
"Jerry Sanders has been unbelievable in his preparation, his work ethic and his body with what he's done to get healthy and get going," Yurcich said. "Fresh Walters is another guy that got an Iron Penguin award, so he's been doing great things in the weight room. He's been recognized by our strength staff, that speaks volumes. [Strength and conditioning] Coach Mason [Garrison], he's got a better pulse on that sort of thing than any of us assistant coaches do. So when he gets recognized for all his offseason work, you know he's put himself in position to have a really good, productive year."
While YSU may not have a dominant, outright No. 1 option at receiver right now like it did last year with Max Tomczak, Brungard has no shortage of options at his disposal in the passing game.
Due to all the new faces, he spent a significant portion of time this offseason trying to build a connection with those receivers.
"The biggest thing is to just gain trust between me and them on a personal level. Get to know them, who they are as a person. Build a relationship with them, and then I really believe that translates to how you play on the field," Brungard said. "We spent a lot of time this summer out here working on routes, working concepts, just spending time with each other. So I think that was a big thing for us."
While there are new faces at receiver, Brungard has depth and experience in his returning options at tight end with the fifth-year duo of Austin Bray and Alex McDonald. In the absence of Michael Manna, who has battled injury throughout the offseason, Yucich said Max Welter has also grown significantlyas another tight end option this offseason.
"Max Welter is learning the ropes, and as physical as he is, watching him grow from spring to now, it's been fun to watch his development. [He's] a guy we're going to ask to contribute," Yurcich said. "Although, he's behind two good tight ends that we feel really good about."
Joining Brungard in the backfield at tailback are five familiar faces that have been around the program for years.
Jaden Gilbert leads the bunch with a year of starting experience under his belt, but Antuan Gardner is back and Tahir Mills returns after missing most of last year with an injury. DaShaun Whatley and Donald Barksdale also provide additional depth.
But the heart and core of the Penguins' offense is all the returning experience up front on the offensive line.
Desmeal Leigh, Nick Nielsen, Isaac Perkins, Matthew Keeley and Shane Keenan will hold things down up front as starters. But Van Keen, Rex Lahr, Vince Luce, Bo Shaefer, Clay Lawrence and Mason Ludwig have each improved and give YSU depth on the line.
"Now it's all about applying [the preparation] and when the lights come on, seizing the moment and the opportunity," Yurcich said. "I think that's the biggest thing is we can't wait to see when the game comes, who's going to really take that next step. That's a big part of it. You hear, he's a gamer. Well, we've got some good guys that have shown some good things in practice. But now when the game comes, that's when the real fun begins."