Youngstown State ranks No. 23 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Penguins finished 8-5 last year, losing 45-28 at Villanova in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Here’s a look at the 2024 YSU football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (3)
Second Team
RB Tyshon King
OL Jaison Williams
Honorable Mention
LS Sam Merryman
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (4)
Cole Parvin (DB), Campbell
Joe Brown (DL), Northern Colorado
Austin Bray (TE), UT Martin
Dathan Hickey (DB), Yale
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (15)
Andrew Jacobs (WR), Charlotte
Ethan Wright (RB), Cincinnati
Stephan Byrd (RB), Cincinnati
Carston Marshall (LB), Iowa State
Jabarrek Hopkins (DL), Marshall
Kerion Martin (DB), Marshall
Matt Reardon (WR), Miami (OH)
Jace Tutty (DB), Penn State
Stephon Hall (DB), Pitt
Jeremiah Robinson (DB), Southern Miss
Richard Dandridge (WR), Temple
Mason Ludwig (OL), Toledo
Dalen Stovall (WR), Toledo
Brady Shannon (QB), UCF
Isaiah Hackett (DB), UNLV
Transfers Lost To The FCS (5)
EJ Johnson (OL) to Mercer
Andres Lehrmann (DL) to Montana
Keon Freeman (LB) to Robert Morris
Aboubakare Dabo (DL) to Sacred Heart
Amarian Robinson (DB) to Western Carolina
Transfers Lost To The FBS (10)
Deamontae Diggs (OLB) to Coastal Carolina
Anthony Johnson (DL) to Illinois
Chris Fitzgerald (DL) to James Madison
Dylan Wudke (DL) to Kansas
C.J. Charleston (WR) to Michigan
Alex Howard (LB) to Texas A&M
Ezekiel Blake (DB) to Toledo
Tyjon Jones (DB) to UAB
Troy Jakubec (DB) to UAB
D’Marco Augustin (DB) to USF
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Offensive Outlook
YSU returns seven starters, including its standout running back, No. 2 wide receiver, starting tight end, and four starting offensive linemen.
The Penguins scored 32 points per game last fall, ranking No. 16 in the FCS.
Running back Tyshon King headlines the offense. The 2023 All-MVFC Second Team selection rushed for 1,011 yards and nine touchdowns on 187 carries. He’ll have a big and experienced offensive line in front of him, returning four full-time starters — three-time All-MVFC Jaison Williams (6’4″ 315 lbs), Aidan Parker (6’2″ 300 lbs), David Metzler (6’5″ 310 lbs), and Desmeal Leigh (6’7″ 320 lbs).
Van Keen (6’4″ 300 lbs) is also back after logging two starts last fall.
Toledo’s Mason Ludwig (6’5″ 285 lbs) is a transfer addition for the o-line, while YSU added two running backs from Cincinnati — Ethan Wright and Stephan Byrd.
On the outside, Max Tomczak is back after finishing No. 2 on the 2023 squad with 56 catches for 669 yards and a touchdown. Luke Hensley has some experience as well, recording 15 catches for 84 yards and two scores last fall. Tight end Brandan Serrano returns after starting eight games and tallying 14 receptions for 93 yards and two TDs.
Austin Bray is an incoming TE transfer from UT Martin. And YSU added three FBS transfers at WR — Charlotte’s Andrew Jacobs, Temple’s Richard Dandridge, and Toledo’s Dalen Stovall.
Starting quarterback is the question mark for an otherwise experienced offense.
YSU has five QBs on its roster. Brady Shannon is a sophomore transfer from UCF. He was a three-star prospect out of high school and played baseball for the Knights in 2023. Beau Brungard is a sophomore who played in all 13 games last season, rushing 18 times for 129 yards and three TDs while completing 14/20 passes for 108 yards. Max Blanc is another sophomore who saw action in two games last year. Bryce Schondelmyer is a redshirt freshman and a two-star high school recruit. Colin Seibert is a true freshman.
Defensive Outlook
The Penguins lose their top nine tacklers from last season after allowing 25.4 points per game (No. 55 in the FCS). They only bring back two of their top 15 tacklers and four of their top 20 leaders in snaps.
Jaylen Castleberry returns after starting seven games at cornerback in 2023. He totaled 27 tackles and seven pass breakups. Defensive end Hunter Allen (6’5″ 255 lbs) made two starts, recording 19 tackles, four sacks, and three quarterback hurries.
DE Dawan Martin played 268 snaps last fall, tallying 13 tackles, four sacks, and seven quarterback hurries. And LB Devin Johnson added 153 snaps and 18 tackles.
YSU looks to a mixture of younger talent and transfers to fill its voids in production.
FCS transfers include Campbell DB Cole Parvin, Northern Colorado DL Joe Brown, and Yale DB Dathan Hickey.
FBS transfers include Iowa State LB Carston Marshall, Marshall DL Jabarrek Hopkins, Marshall DB Kerion Martin, Penn State DB Jace Tutty, Pitt DB Stephon Hall, Southern Miss DB Jeremiah Robinson, and UNLV DB Isaiah Hackett.
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Youngstown State Football Schedule
8/29 at No. 6 Villanova
9/7 vs Valparaiso
9/14 vs Duquesne
9/21 at Pitt
9/28 at Missouri State
10/5 vs Indiana State
10/12 at No. 1 South Dakota State
10/19 vs No. 5 South Dakota
10/26 vs North Dakota
11/2 at No. 24 Illinois State
11/9 at No. 9 Southern Illinois
11/16 vs Northern Iowa
Bold indicates MVFC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
