Youngstown State student-athletes Jaleel McLaughlin and Morgan Cole are the 2022-23 recipients of the YSU Joseph F. Malmisur YSU Student-Athletes of the Year.
McLaughlin and Cole will be recognized this evening at the Scholar-Athlete Banquet in Kilcawley Center which begins at 6 p.m.
Both Penguin student-athletes made huge impacts for their respective teams throughout their YSU careers. McLaughlin was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and set the NCAA All-Division Career Rushing Yards record this past fall. Cole won the Horizon League Cross Country Championship while winning the mile, 3,000m and 5,000m to help the women's track and field team capture the HL's indoor title.
Career Notes: Established a new NCAA All-Division rushing yardage career record finishing with 8,155 yards on 1,258 carries while scoring 78 touchdowns in his five-year career. In his three seasons as a Penguin, he rushed for 3,418 yards on 535 attempts and had 30 touchdowns. He was a two-time first-team All-MVFC selection while adding second-team honors as well. Prior to coming to YSU he spent two seasons at Division II Notre Dame (Ohio). At Notre Dame he was a two-time first-team Division II AFCA All-American.
2022: First-team All-America selection by The Associated Press, Athlon Sports, FCS Stats Perform and HERO Sports…was a second-team All-American recipient by the AFCA…named the 2022 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year…was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award finishing seventh…rushed for 1,588 yards on 227 carries and scored 13 touchdowns…against strong MVFC competition, had 1,220 yards on 184 attempts and nine scores while averaging 152.5 yards in eight league games…rushed for more than 200 yards on four occasions and had eight 100-yard plus games…caught 19 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns…caught a 52-yard touchdown pass against Dayton and a 35-yard touchdown at North Dakota State…finished with 1,888 all-purpose yards…opened the season with 203 yards on 20 carries and had a season-high three touchdowns vs. Duquesne…at Missouri State rushed for a season-high 227 yards on 28 carries and scored on a 65-yard touchdown run…at Western Illinois, rushed for 207 yards on 31 carries…against Indiana State rushed for 200 yards on 32 carries and two scores…scored on a 68-yard run against the Sycamores…had 150 yards on 17 carries and caught three passes for 43 yards at NDSU…against North Dakota had 138 yards on 14 attempts…in limited duty against Dayton had 129 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown…went for 119 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns vs. South Dakota…at Illinois State had 95 yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for 46 yards…at Kentucky had a season-long reception of 64 yards…in YSU finale rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries and scored twice…scored on a 35-yard touchdown run on his final collegiate carry vs. SIU with just 35 seconds remaining.
2021: Third-team All-America selection by The Associated Press and HERO Sports…first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection...rushed for 1,139 total yards on 175 carries, averaging 113.9 yards per contest…in MVFC games, amassed 893 yards on 133 carries, an average of 107.9 yards per contest while scoring 10 touchdowns…scored 12 touchdowns on the campaign…had scores in six games…caught 20 passes for 175 yards…in the season opener against UIW had a season-best 242 yards on 29 attempts and scored two touchdowns…his 45-yard reception in the final seconds set up YSU's game-tying field-goal attempt…scored on runs of 72 yards and 11 yards in the game…against Western Illinois, had 136 yards on 23 carries and scored twice…had TD runs of 35 and 10 yards against the Leathernecks…against Missouri State, finished with 156 yards on 19 carries and scored twice…had TD runs of 22 and 60 yards in the fourth quarter…at Indiana State rambled for 138 yards on 17 carries and had touchdown…scored a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter…at North Dakota had 122 yards on 18 attempts and a TD…closed out the season with a 25-carry, 185-yard, three-touchdown performance in a victory at Southern Illinois…had scoring runs of 38, 35 and five against the Salukis…was a two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week selection…named a team captain.
2021 Spring: Second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection...named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team...played in all seven games and started five contests...rushed for 691 yards on 133 carries and scored five touchdowns...caught five passes for 24 yards...returned seven kickoffs for 104 yards...totaled 819 all-purpose yards...rushed for 100-or-more yards in each of the final five games - every game he started...had 28 carries for 166 yards against South Dakota...both were season-best performances...had 26 carries for 124 yards and two touchdowns against Southern Illinois...at South Dakota State had 26 carries for 122 yards and two touchdowns...scored on a 42-yard run against the Jackrabbits...finished with 122 yards on 17 carries at Western Illinois...scored on a season-long 72-yard run at WIU...had 100 yards on 20 carries at Missouri State...had 38 yards on eight attempts against UNI...caught passes in five games...had two 10-yard receptions...had three kickoff returns against Southern Illinois...had two kickoff returns at NDSU.
Notre Dame College (2018-19): Was one of the top running backs in Division II in 2018 and 2019...two-time finalist for Harlon Hill trophy, which honors top player in Division II…was second in 2019 and third in 2018 in the voting for the award…earned first-team All-America honors in both seasons…rushed for more than 2,400 yards in each of his two seasons at Notre Dame…workhorse back with 345-plus attempts in each of his first two years...in 2019, led NCAA Division II in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards…ran for NCAA high 2,316 yards on 345 carries in 14 games…scored 33 touchdowns (30 rushing)…caught 10 passes for 64 yards and scored three touchdowns…returned 10 kickoffs for 148 yards…finished with a DII-high 2,526 all-purpose yards...rushed for a season-best 258 yards at West Liberty on 31 carries and scored three touchdowns...had 20-or-more carries in 11 games…scored touchdowns in 13 games…rushed for more than 126 yards on 12 occasions and had 200-plus in four games...as a freshman in 2018, ran for an NCAA-high 2,421 yards on 378 carries and 19 touchdowns in 14 contests…caught 12 passes for 79 yards…returned 12 kickoffs for 199 yards…led NCAA DII in all-purpose yards with 2,699...had 30-plus carries in six games…rushed for more than 100 yards in 12 contests…had touchdowns in 11 games…in collegiate debut, rushed for 302 yards on 22 carries against Shepherd…had a career-best 340 yards on 26 carries and scored three touchdowns against West Liberty…had 41 rushes for 194 yards and scored twice against Fairmont State…had 172 yards on 36 carries and a touchdown against Slippery Rock in the playoffs…against Valdosta State had 175 yards on 32 attempts in the playoffs.
High School: Participated in football, basketball and track and field at Forest Hills High School...as a senior, rushed for 1,401 yards on 167 carries and scored 16 touchdowns in 12 games...as a junior, had 728 yards rushing on 102 carries and scored 13 touchdowns in 11 games...was a member of a state championship winning basketball team...won two state championships in track and field...in 2018, won the 2A State Championship in the 200 meters with a time of 22.09 seconds and the 400 meters with a time of 48.11 seconds...was also part of 4x100 and 4x200m state champion relay teams as well.
Career Notes: Has won eight Horizon League Track and Field event championships during career – 2023 Indoor (mile, 3,000m and 5,000m), 2022 Outdoor (3,000m and 5,000m), 2022 indoor (3,000m and 5,000m), 2021 Outdoor (5,000m). Claimed the 2022 Horizon League Championship in Cross Country by more than 30 seconds. Finished sixth or better in each of her Horizon League Championship races. Placed in the top 60 at the Great Lakes Cross Country Regionals in 2021 and 2022.
2023 Indoor (Senior): Named the Outstanding Running Performer at the Horizon League Championships…won the mile, 3,000-meter run and 5,000-meter run at the meet…scored a huge 30 points to help the Penguins win by just four points…posted winning times of 5:01.60 in the mile, 10:01.09 in the 3,000m and 17:07.47 in the 5,000m.
2022 Outdoor (Sophomore): Named the co-Outstanding Running Performer at the Horizon League Championships...won the 5,000m and the 10,000m at the HL meet...posted a time of 17:25.45 taking the 5000m and a time of 35:41.11 to earn the win the 10,000m...had a best time of 16:41.45 in the 5K at the Bison Classic and a top time of 4:33.41 in the 1500m at the Jesse Owens Classic.
2022 Indoor (Junior): Won the 3,000m and 5,000m runs at the Horizon League Championships...posted a winning time of 9:51.81 in the 3000m and a time of 17:01.13 in the 5000m...had a best time of 9:42.06 in the 3000m at the GVSU Big Meet...won the 5,000m at the YSU Mid-Major Invitational with a time of 17:09.95...had a top time of 4:58.28 in the mile at the YSU College Invite.
2021 Outdoor (Freshman): Captured the Penguins' first conference title in the women's 5000m in five seasons, posting a 17:08.74...in the 1500m had a time of 4:40.34 and would go on to earn a top-three finish at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational...clocked a time of 17:02.95 in the 5000m run at the Hillsdale "Gina" Relays...named a Horizon League T&F Field Athlete of the Week on March 30 after slashing her previous personal-best by more than 19 seconds as she posted a 17:11.98 in the 5000m...named to the Horizon League T&F All-Academic Team.
2020 Indoor (Sophomore): Clocked a team-best 5:02.95 in the mile run at the Horizon League Indoor Championships, earning a runner-up finish...owned team-best times in 3000m (9:56.99 - YSU Mid-Major Invitational) and 5000m (17:29.00 - Horizon League Indoor Championships).
2020 Indoor (Freshman): Finished fourth in the 5000m with a time of 17:28.13...placed fifth in the 3000m with a personal-best time of 10:04.29 at the Horizon League Championships...ran the 1600m leg on the DMR team that broke the school record with a time of 11:52.21 at the Clemson Bob Pollock Meet...was named the Horizon League Women's Runner of the Week on January 28...finished the season with the fifth quickest 3000m and 5000m times in school history...clocked the sixth fastest mile time in school history at 5:03.51 at the Kent State Doug Raymond National Qualifier.
Cross Country
2022 (Senior): Competed in five races on the season…was the 2022 Horizon League Champion…Named Women's HL Cross Country Athlete of the Year…Earned First-Team All-League Honors…Named to the Horizon League All-Academic Team…Earned the HLXC Runner of the Week Award three times during the 2022 season (9/25, 10/4, and 10/18)…Was the Penguins' top finisher in each race she competed in…Finished 49th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals, clocking a season-best 6k time of 21:11.3 (11/11)…Clocked a 21:25.5 in her 6k victory at the Horizon League Championships, finishing 30 seconds ahead of the competition and helping lead the Penguins to a third-place overall finish (10/29)…Finished 26th at the Penn State National Open, clocking a 6k time of 21:21.8 (10/14)…Clocked a season-best 5k time of 17:07.6, which ranks as the second-fastest 5k time in YSU history, to place fifth in the gold race at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (9/30)…Was 18th at the Coast-to-Coast Battle in Beantown Invitational, clocking a 5k time of 17:48 (9/23).
2021 (Junior): Made six appearances on the 2021 season...Named First Team All-Horizon League...Earned Horizon League All-Academic Team honors...Clocked the second-fastest 6K mark in program history at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional with a personal-best time of 21:11.1 to finish 58th (11/12)...Helped lead the Penguins to a third-place finish at the Horizon League Championships with a time of 22:35.4, a mark good for third-place individually (10/30)...Finished 21st at the Penn State National Open with a time of 21:39.5 (10/15)...Logged a 10th-place finish at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational with a 5K time of 17:38.8 (10/1)...Posted a time of 22:14.7 at the Michigan State Spartan 2021 Auto Owners Invitational to finish 10th overall (9/17)...Turned in the top 4K mark across all runners at the inaugural Yinzer Classic with a time of 14:39.3 (9/3).
2020 (Sophomore): Competed in two events...Earned 2020 NCAA Division I women's Cross Country All-Academic Team honors...Named to the 2020 Horizon League Cross Country women's All-Academic Team...Posted a team-best 22:07.5 at the Horizon League Cross Country Championships, earning a fourth-place finish (3/4/21)...Ran a team-best 21:54.6 at the Florida State Winter Cross Country Classic to finish 11th (2/5/21).
2019 (Freshman): Competed in six of eight events...Named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and All-Horizon League First-Team...Ran a time of 22:22.6 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional (11/15)...Placed sixth at the Horizon League Championships (11/2)...Turned in a time of 21:59.3 a the Penn State National Open (10/18)...Her time ranked as the seventh fastest 6K time in program history...Won the Disney World Classic with a time of 18:15.12 (10/12)...Posted a time of 18:08.82 at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational (10/4)...That time ranked as the 10th fastest 5K time in program history...Finished ninth at the Tommy Evans Invitational with a time of 18:23.4 (9.7).
