10 Youngstown State players get Missouri Valley Football Conference football season honors
The Youngstown State football team had 10 players named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference all-league team. YSU had five second-team All-MVFC picks and five honorable-mention All-MVFC selections.
Meet the Youngstown State honorees
Earning second-team honors were WR Bryce Oliver, DE Dylan Wudke, TB Tyshon King, OL Jaison Williams and CB Troy Jakubec. Oliver was a first-team selection in 2022 while Wudke was second-team pick last year and Williams had twice been named honorable mention in his career.
On the Honorable-Mention squad, QB Mitch Davidson, FB/TE Jake Benio, OL Ryan Johnson, LB Alex Howard and LS Sam Merryman. It’s the first time all five have earned All-MVFC honors in their careers.
It marks the first time since 2003 and only the second time in school history that YSU did not place an individual on the MVFC first team. The Penguins were one of just four teams without a first-team honoree joining Indiana State, Western Illinois and Murray State in that category. The Dakota schools had 20 of 31 first-team selections while UNI had five first-team selections and Illinois State had three.
The Penguins are one of just five conference teams still in action this year. YSU travels to No. 8 seed Villanova this Saturday in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. Kickoff at Villanova Stadium is set for Noon.
Regular-season player highlights
#10 RB Tyshon King Rushed for 894 yards on 160 carries and scored nine touchdowns in his YSU debut season…in MVFC games had 600 yards on 125 carries…had a season-best 152 yards against Murray State and added 148 against Illinois State…had five 100-yard games on the season.
#0 WR Bryce Oliver Tied the school record for career TD receptions with 25…had 53 receptions for 759 yards and seven touchdowns…in MVFC contests, had 36 receptions for 549 yards and seven touchdowns…had 100-yard receiving games against Robert Morris, UNI and Missouri State…caught two touchdown passes against Murray State and Missouri State…had TDs in five games…first-team All-MVFC in 2022.
#17 DE Dylan Wudke Credited with 32 total tackles (13-19) on the season…has 7 TFLs and three sacks…in MVFC games, registered 25 total tackles (9-16)…had sacks against Southern Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State during the season…has started 35 games, including 30 consecutive.
#2 DB Troy Jakubec Credited with 31 total tackles (21-10) on the season…had four interceptions and seven PBUs…in MVFC games, had 27 tackles (18-9)…intercepted passes against Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Missouri State and Indiana State…had two PBUs vs. Illinois State.
#52 OL Jaison Williams, YSU, 6-4, 298, Jr., Trotwood, Ohio (Trotwood Madison H.S.)Started all 11 games at right tackle…has started 38 games on the offensive line during career…played every snap in seven games…YSU averaged 167.7 yards per game and allowed just 15 sacks on 330 passing attempts.
#14 QB Mitch Davidson Became the first Penguin QB to start every game in a season since 2013…he completed 211-of-297 passes for 2,485 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions…in MVFC contests, he was 211-of-297 for 19 touchdowns…he had 88 yards rushing on 52 carries and scored five touchdowns.
#82 FB Jake Benio Played in nine games as a tight end and fullback…outstanding blocker in the run game…caught 14 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
#0 LS Sam Merryman Three-year starter as long snapper…Penguins made 12-of-16 field goals and 42-of-44 PAT attempts…Guins had a net punting average of 41.5 yards…YSU averaged 43.5 yards per punt on 42 attempts.
#3 DL Alex HowardLed the team with 67 total tackles (34-31) on the season…had 7.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks…in MVFC games, had 46 total tackles (21-25) with 3 TFLs…had sacks against Valparaiso, Ohio State and Southern Illinois…registered nine tackles against Illinois State…forced two fumbles in MVFC play.
#71 OL Ryan Johnson Started all 11 games at right guard…has started 26 games on the offensive line during career…played every snap in seven games…YSU averaged 167.7 yards per game and allowed just 15 sacks on 330 passing attempts.
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