Meet the 14 new members of the Youngstown State football team
The Youngstown State football team has added 14 student-athletes to the 2024 roster. All 14 are currently enrolled at YSU and are participating in offseason actvities with the program. YSU picked up 10 FBS transfers, two FCS and two Division II transfers recently.
Here’s biography sketches on the Penguins’ additions:
Austin Bray
Tight End
6-6, 250
UT-Martin / Venice High School
Venice, Fla.
UT-Martin: Was a member of the program from 2022-23…in 2023, played in 11 games…caught three passes for 33 yards…had receptions against Murray State, Houston Baptist and Gardner-Webb…in 2022, played in 10 games and made two starts.
High School: Earned first team all-state honors...Tallied 15 receptions for 190 yards and one touchdown…Averaged 12.4 yards per reception…Helped the Indians to a 14-1 record and a 2021 Florida 8A state championship…coach was John Peacock…Previously played at Glenwood High School…Picked up second team all-conference honors in basketball.
Tyler Bukur
Defensive Line
6-2, 275
Marian / Valparaiso High School
Valparaiso, Ind.
Marian: Was a member of the program from 2019-23…played in 39 games during career…had 128 tackles and returned a fumble and interception for a touchdown…In 2023, earned MSFA Mideast League First-Team honors...finished the season with a career-high 50 total tackles, including 18 solos...had 10 TFLs and two sacks...recorded one interception and recovered one fumble...also blocked a kick...against Olivet Nazarene recorded first career interception, catching the ball in the end zone for a touchdown...made 10 total tackles against Concordia, making 2.5 tackles for loss...against St. Xavier in the NAIA playoffs recorded five tackles and recovered a fumble...had five stops in wins over Taylor and St. Francis...in 2022, earned MSFA Mideast Honorable-Mention honors...started all 11 games...made 33 total tackles, including 22 solos...had nine tackles for loss and five sacks...posted a season-high seven total tackles against St. Francis (Ill.)...in 2021, was named to the MSFA Mideast-League Second Team...started all 12 games...finished with 38.5 total tackles, making 31 solo tackles...finished with 12 TFLs and a team-high 7.5 sacks...had a season-high 10 total tackles against Tiffin...in the NAIA FCS First Round scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone against Southwestern...in the NAIA FCS Quarterfinals at Northwestern he had five solo tackles, posting a season-high two sacks...in 2020-21, appeared in five games, making one start...has six tackles on the season...in 2019, redshirted.
High School: Was a two-time all-conference selection...as a junior was named all-state...collected first-team all-area accolades and was named a Region 1 All-Star.
Stephan Byrd
Tailback
6-0, 215
Cincinnati / Canal Winchester High School
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Cincinnati: Was a member of the program from 2022-23…appeared in one game in 2023…played in two games in 2022 to redshirt.
High School: Was a three-star prospect by 247sports.com and On3.com…was ranked as the 13th-best recruit in Ohio entering senior year…first-team All-Ohio Division II selection in 2020 and 2019…rushed for 1,363 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in 10 games…earned first-team Division II All-Central District honors…finished the season with 1,863 all-purpose yards…as a sophomore, had 1,500 yards and 25 total touchdowns…named OCC-Capital Division co-Offensive Player of the Year…as a freshman, scored 12 touchdowns and rushed for 1,252 yards.
Richard Dandridge
Wide Receiver
5-11, 170
Temple / Canal Homestead High School
Homestead, Fla.
Temple: Was a member of the program in 2023.
High School: Was a standout wide receiver and defensive back…as a senior, had 1,130 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns…on defense had four interceptions…as a junior, had 1,044 receiving yards and 10 scores…also had three interceptions…had 800 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns while intercepting five passes during freshman and sophomore seasons…coach was Phillip Simpson.
Jawon Hall
Wide Receiver
6-1, 185
Slippery Rock / Lackawanna JC / Central Valley High School
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Slippery Rock: Was a member of the program from 2022-23…appeared in 24 games and started six games in two seasons…caught 37 passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns…in 2023, played in 12 contests and started twice…caught 10 passes for 79 yards…had three kickoff returns totaling 57 yards…had three catches for 43 yards against Clarion…caught three passes against East Stroudsburg…in 2022, played in 12 games, making four starts...earned first-team All-PSAC West honors as kick returner…caught 27 passes for 443 yards and three touchdowns…returned eight kickoffs for 241 yards and a touchdown…averaged 30.1 yards per kickoff return…returned a kickoff 97 yards against Mercyhurst…had three rushes for 55 yards…at West Chester, caught three passes for 47 yards…at IUP, had three catches for 84 yards and caught two touchdown passes…hauled in a season-high four receptions for 52 yards at Clarion…had 85 yards on three catches, including a season-long 61-yard catch against Shepherd in the playoffs…had a TD grab against Mercyhurst.
Junior College: Attended Lackawanna in 2021…appeared in six games…caught 11 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns…averaged 23.4 yards per catch.
High School: Played football, basketball and competed in track and field.
Stephon Hall
Defensive Back
6-1, 190
Pittsburgh / Central Valley High School
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Pittsburgh: Was a member of the program from 2021-23…appeared in 18 games in the final two seasons…in 2023, played in nine games…finished with seven tackles, including five solo stops…had a season-best four tackles vs. Notre Dame, including three solos…had tackles against Florida State, Syracuse and Wofford…tallied 64 snaps on defense in 2022, played in nine games…redshirted in 2021.
High School: As a senior, was rated Pennsylvania’s No. 16 overall prospect by 247Sports and No. 25 by Rivals…named Pennsylvania Football Writers All-Class 3A…Class 3A Northwestern Six Defensive Player of the Year…Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”…played running back, defensive back, wide receiver and was a kick returner…compiled 64 tackles, 14 pass breakups and a forced fumble on defense…scored 13 touchdowns (11 rushing and two on kickoff returns)…averaged nearly 50 yards on five kickoff returns (five for 247) and 35.3 on punt returns (three for 106)… led team to consecutive WPIAL Class 3A championships as a junior and senior…selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic (Pennsylvania vs. Maryland)...coach was Mark Lyons.
Dathan Hickey
Defensive Back
6-1, 195
Yale / Bristol Central High School
Bristol, Conn.
Yale: Was a member of the program from 2018-23…appeared in 29 games throughout career…had five career interceptions…in 2023, played in two games…finished with four tackles…in 2022, appeared in three games…had 11 tackles and an interception…posted a season-high six tackles and had a pick against Howard…in 2021, appeared in eight games…was credited with 31 total tackles, including 19 solo stops…forced fumbles and had an interception…had a season-best seven tackles against Brown and forced two fumbles…had five tackles and an interception against Princeton…against rival Harvard, had six tackles…intercepted a pass against Penn…in 2019, played in nine games and was credited with 25 total tackles, including 17 solos…had three interceptions and a fumble recovery…had three tackles and two interceptions against Cornell…had a season-high six tackles vs. Cornell…finished with five tackles and two PBUs and an interception against Brown…in 2018, appeared in six contests and was credited with 28 tackles…had seven tackles against Brown and Penn…finished with four stops vs. Maine and Cornell.
High School: Played four positions - WR/RB/DB/QB during career…earned all-state recognition…was named Walter Camp All-Connecticut…was a two-time all-conference pick…named to the New Haven Register All-State Team…as a senior, had 1,402 rushing yards and 30 TDs…had 48 tackles and two interceptions in final campaign…team was the Division Champions…named a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete…also played basketball and baseball.
Jabarrek Hopkins
Defensive Line
6-4, 300
Marshall / Independence CC / Madiso County High School
Greenville, Fla.
Marshall: Was a member of the program from 2022-23…in 2023, saw action against Arkansas State…in 2022, played in three games and started one contest…had a sack for nine-yard loss against Gardner-Webb…saw action against Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion.
Independence CC: Was a member of the program in 2021.
High School: Was a talented offensive tackle and defensive lineman…had a team-high 42 pancake blocks as a senior.
Carston Marshall
Linebacker
6-2, 215
Marshall / Independence CC / Madiso County High School
Kennesaw, Ga.
Iowa State: Was a member of the program from 2021-23…appeared in 10 games during career…in 2023, played in six contests…was credited with four tackles…had two stops against UNI and Ohio…in 2022, had tackles…finished with a season-high five stops vs. Ohio…had two tackles against SE Missouri State…redshirted in 2021.
High School: Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals…was the No. 40 outside linebacker and No. 22 player in Ohio by 247Sports…two-time All-Suburban League selection…posted 50 tackles, 3.0 TFL, two sacks and an interception in senior season… three-year letterwinner…as a junior, tallied 83 tackles, 13.0 TFL and five sacks for a team that went 9-3…coach was Justin Todd.
Antonio O’Berry
Defensive Line
6-4, 230
Tiffin / Wayne High School
Dayton, Ohio
Tiffin: Was a member of the program from 2021-23…had a breakout year in 2023…was a second-team All-GMAC pick on the defensive line…played in 11 games…had 35 total tackles, including 21 solo stops…led the team with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs…credited with sacks in nine of 11 games…recorded a season-best seven tackles against Kentucky Wesleyan…had five tackles in Division II playoff game against Slippery Rock….Dragons went 11-1 on the season…In 2022, appeared in two games…redshirted in 2021.
High School: Was a first-team All-GWOC selection in 2020…played in eight games…credited with 62 total tackles, including 36 solo stops.
Matt Reardon
Wide Receiver
6-1, 180
Miami (Ohio) / Ursuline High School
Youngstown, Ohio
Miami (Ohio): Was a member of the program from 2021-23…saw action against Bowling Green in 2023…in 2022, missed the season with an injury...in 2021, played in four games to preserve a redshirt...saw action against Cincinnati, Long Island, Army and North Texas (Frisco Bowl).
High School: Was a three-star recruit by 247sports.com…was the No. 81 player in Ohio by 247sports…played wide receiver, free safety, kickoff returner, punter and kicker during career…also saw some time at quarterback…as a senior, had 618 receiving yards and 489 kickoff return yards…completed five passes for 155 yards…had 38 total tackles, including 21 solo stops…averaged 39.6 yards per punt…third-team All-Ohio selection as a junior…caught 28 passes for 448 yards and seven touchdowns and passed for 642 yards and five touchdowns in 2019…two-time first-team All-Northeast Inland District pick…passed for a career-high 351 yards against Bishop Watterson which was a school record…played final two seasons at Ursuline after starting high school career at Canton McKinley…coach at Ursuline was Dan Reardon.
Brady Shannon
Quarterback
6-3, 210
UCF / Ursuline High School
Youngstown, Ohio
UCF: Played baseball for the Golden Knights in 2023…played in 25 games, making nine starts in the outfield…had seven hits, scored four runs and five RBI…belted two home runs.
High School: Was a three-star prospect by 247sports.com…was a two-time All-Ohio Division IV selection earning second-team honors as a senior and honorable-mention accolades as a junior…as a senior, passed for 2,829 yards and 29 touchdowns…rushed for 832 yards and added eight touchdowns…in 2021, led the Irish to their first state title game appearance since 2010…in the title game completed 15 passes and had two touchdown tosses…was a two-time all-conference selection at QB…set school records for career passing yards and touchdowns…coach was Dan Reardon…last football game played was Dec. 3, 2021…was a four-time letterwinner in football, baseball and basketball.
Jace Tutty
Defensive Back
5-11, 190
Penn State / Stroudsburg High School
Stroudsburg, Pa.
Penn State: Was a member of the program from 2021-23.
High School: Earned second-team all-state honors as an outside linebacker during senior season...Named a first-team all-conference selection as a linebacker and running back during senior season...Picked up EPC Monroe Division MCP during senior campaign...Earned an invitation to the McDonald’s All-Star Game...Was a team captain and earned team MVP honors his senior season...Squad won a pair of EPC Mountain Valley championships...Posted two interceptions, eight tackles for loss and a forced fumble as a senior while also gaining 645 rushing yards and 180 receiving yards to go along with 11 touchdowns...Named a first-team all-conference honoree as a safety during junior season...Posted three interceptions, 10 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles as a junior and added 340 rushing yards, 280 receiving yards and three touchdowns...Forced and recovered two fumbles as a sophomore to go along with three tackles for loss...Was a three-time academic all-area selection...Also lettered in baseball, playing the outfield and pitching.
Ethan Wright
Tailback
5-11, 190
Cincinnati / Manchster High School
Akron, Ohio
Cincinnati: Was a member of the program from 2020-23…appeared in 32 career games…in 2023, played in four games before redshirting…had seven carries for 19 yards and caught one pass…had four carries vs. Eastern Kentucky…in 2022, played in eight games…played defensive back for most of the season finishing with nine tackles…had a season-high seven stops vs. Kennesaw…returned to play running back in the Fenway Bowl and had eight carries for 43 yards against Louisville…in 2021, played in 13 games, including the AAC Championship and CFP semifinals vs. Alabama…had 29 carries for 153 yards and three touchdowns…had 76 yards, including a 58-yard scoring run on five carries vs. Temple…had touchdowns against UCF and USF…caught two passes for 15 yards…in 2020, appeared in seven games…had two tackles and caught two passes.
High School: Three-star recruit prospect by 247sports.com...Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Ohio...was a three-time Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Division V First-Team All-State selection…Named OPSWA Division V Player of the Year in 2017 and 2019...capped prep career with 7,804 rushing yards, ranking No. 4 all-time in Ohio, with 130 total TDs (second) and 105 rushing TDs (sixth)...was a finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football Award in 2019 after rushing for 2,385 yards and 36 touchdowns…also passed for 316 yards and two scores, and caught a TD pass...on defense, totaled 146 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions…also had a 37.2-yard punting average...returned both an interception and a fumble for touchdowns...in 2018, scored 40 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions…posted 280 rushes for 2,574 yards and 33 touchdowns with 23 receptions for 411 yards and five touchdowns and one touchdown pass on offense…totaled 136 tackles (36 solos), three interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense…the 2017 season featured a single-season school-record 272 points…had 287 carries for 2,468 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground along with 28 catches for 366 yards and eight TDs receiving…racked up 122 total tackles (19 solos), four sacks, three fumble recoveries and one fumble forced on defense and had a kick return for a score…coach was Jim France...a three-sport athlete with letters in football, basketball and track and field.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 2:21 PM.