Raymond Logan didn’t know what his future would hold after Urbana University closed this spring. All sports were disbanded as the school transitioned to online-only learning.

Where would the 6-foot-3, 180-pound wide receiver go to play football?

Chaney High School football coach Chris Amill worked tirelessly on getting Logan and teammates Migel Burgess and KeyShaun Davis, places to play for the fall of 2020. All three had signed with Urbana, located about an hour west of Columbus.

Now there is no four-hour trip for Logan. He’s staying in Youngstown as a preferred walk-on at Youngstown State University.

“It means everything to still play the sport I love at the next level,” said Logan, who will major in exercise science at YSU.

He had nearly 300 yards receiving last season, but said he’ll play as a defensive back for the Penguins.

Amill said at one point all three of his former players wanted to walk-on at YSU, but the team wasn’t sure where their numbers were. Spring ball wasn’t there for first-year coach Doug Phillips because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Add to that the remaining players from the Bo Pelini-era.

Logan is one of a handful of Mahoning Valley players either signed or walking on next season at YSU.

“It seems they want to keep more local guys at home,” Amill said. “I know they’re making a big push for Delshawn Petrosky to stay home next year. That is a goal and a mission of theirs. I hope it works out.

“I hope we go back to the coach (Jim) Tressel days. He’s willing to give those local kids who are MAC (Mid-American Conference) players scholarships, live on campus and play football, like my brother (Ramon) and a lot of his friends that played locally did. That would be a great thing.”

Logan will be playing in the best conference in the FCS, the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

Logan is a bit behind because of not being involved in Zoom meetings with the other players, but as far as actual learning Amill said he’s right there. There will be plenty of opportunity for Logan to grow with the Penguin program.

“The thing with Ray that’s incredible is he’s 17,” Amill said. “He’ll pretty much play this season at the age of 17 where you have a lot of guys coming out of high school at 19. He has time to mature and grow. Just the way he is now, he’s been working out with us now. Just seeing him quick mentally has been amazing, just in a year. I’m expecting big things from him as well.”

Logan wants to be part of the resurgence of Penguins football. YSU last made the FCS title game in January 2017, losing to James Madison.

“I want to win a championship, and do whatever to help the team,” he said.