Youngstown State Head Football Coach Doug Phillips announced the signees for the Penguins' class of 2023 on Wednesday afternoon.
Below is a list of who has signed to join the YSU program:
Vinny Ballone
Athlete
6-5, 200
Lowellville High School
Lowellville, Ohio
High School: First-team All-Ohio Division VII selection…was named the Division VII Northeast Inland District Offensive Player of the Year…named MVAC Offensive Player of the Year…passed for 3,360 yards this past season, rushed for 453 yards and accounted for 58 total touchdowns while leading Lowellville to 11 wins and a berth in the Division VII playoffs…threw 55 touchdown passes…was the school's all-time leading passer with 8,706 career yards and 124 career touchdowns…broke six school records during his high school career…completed 29-of-38 passes for 442 yards and tied the state record with nine touchdown passes against Jackson Milton on Sept. 16, 2022…named Honorable-Mention All-Ohio as a junior and sophomore…four-time first-team All-MVAC selection… coach was Andrew Mamula…has scored more than 1,000 points in his Rockets' basketball career.
Daniel Bibent
Linebacker
6-1, 195
Oak Hills High School
Cincinnati, Ohio
High School: Standout linebacker for Oak Hills…also plays lacrosse.
Brady Bunofsky
Linebacker
6-3, 200
Lowellville High School
Lowellville, Ohio
High School: Second-team All-Ohio Division VII selection as a wide receiver…caught 62 passes for 1,024 yards and 18 touchdowns…credited with 58 total tackles and seven sacks…first-team All-MVAC selection…first-team Division VII All-Northeast Inland pick…Rockets posted an 11-1 record for the season…set school record for career receiving yards (3,424), receptions (224) and touchdown catches (45)…as a junior, had 65 receptions for 1,005 yards…coach was Andrew Mamula…also plays basketball.
Isaiah Crozier
Cornerback
6-1, 185
Pickerington Central High School
Pickerington, Ohio
High School: Two-star defensive back by 247sports.com…helped lead Central to a 9-4 record in 2022…was an honorable-mention all-conference selection…coach was Jay Sharrett.
Sebastian Espinoza
Offensive Line
6-6, 280
Bullitt East High School
Mount Washington, Ky.
High School: Third-team All-Kentucky Class 6A selection…East finished the season with a 14-1 record and won the 6A title…coach was Keegan Kendrick.
Ben Fosnot
Offensive Line
6-6, 230
Mason High School
Mason, Ohio
High School: Two-star tight end from 247sports.com.
Michael Gleske
Kicker
5-10, 170
Medina High School
Medina, Ohio
High School: Honorable-Mention All-Ohio Division I selection…first-team Division All-Northeast Inland District pick…first-team All-GCC …named Greater Cleveland Conference's Special Teams Player of the Year…made 51 PATs, four field goals and had 40 touchbacks.
Connor Johannesen
Defensive Line
6-5, 250
Parsippany Hills High School
Parsippany, N.J.
High School: Played defensive end and offensive tackle…first-team All-Sussex/Morris County team selection on the defensive line…was a first-team all-conference honoree…team leader in sacks as a senior and a junior…coach was Dave Albano.
Matthew Keeley
Offensive Line
6-3, 255
Niles McKinley High School
Niles, Ohio
High School: Played offensive guard and defensive tackle…Honorable-Mention All-Ohio Division III selection…first-team Division III All-Northeast Inland District selection…coach was Jim Perry.
Maximus Lockett
Offensive Line
6-7, 250
Springfield Central High School
Springfield, Mass.
High School: Second-team Division I All-Western Mass Football selection…Played tight end and offensive tackle for Central…is also a standout basketball player.
DeVaughn McClinton
Cornerback
5-10, 170
Woodland Hills High School
Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School: Second-team Big East Conference selection as a junior.
Bryce Schondelmyer
6-2, 195
Quarterback
Springfield High School
Springfield, Ohio
High School: Two-star recruit by 247sports.com…First-team All-Ohio Division I selection as a quarterback…helped lead Springfield to a state runner-up finish…in senior season at Springfield guided the program to the Division I State Championship Game…completed 304-of-437 passes for 4,630 yards and 48 touchdowns…his 4,630 yards ranked fourth in the nation…in high school career, passed for 11,521 yards, which ranked fourth all-time in state history, and threw 136 touchdown passes, which ranked fifth…rushed for 1,766 yards and 34 touchdowns…was responsible for 170 touchdowns during high school career…played first three seasons at Aracnum High School before transferring for his senior campaign…as a junior, was named Ohio's Division VI co-Offensive Player of the Year along with fellow YSU QB Beau Brungard…was a first-team All-Ohio Division VI selection…passed for 3,278 yards and was named the WOAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
