Youngstown State Head Football Coach Doug Phillips announced a talented group of signees for the Penguins' class of 2025 on Wednesday afternoon.
The class features a strong regional flare with additions from Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as a duo with Florida ties. The group is comprised of 11 offensive players and nine defensive players.
Below is a list of who has signed to join the YSU program:
Donald Barksdale
Running Back
5-10, 180
Munhall, Pa.
Steel Valley High School
High School: Eclipsed 5,000 career rushing yards finishing with 5,270…also finished with 76 career rushing touchdowns…as a senior, rushed for 2,239 yards on 204 carries and scored 29 touchdowns…had a long run of 94 yards…named to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fabulous 22 squad…as a junior, rushed for 2,061 yards on 267 attempts and scored 37 TDs…had a long run of 77 yards…rushed for 927 yards with 16 TDs on 86 carries as a sophomore…long rush was 80 yards…finished career as the 19th all-time leading rusher in WPIAL history.
Lemondte Chambers
Linebacker
6-1, 220
Middletown, Ohio
Middletown High School
High School: Played outside linebacker…helped the Middletown qualify for the first round of the OHSAA Division I playoffs.
Darius Clements
Wide Receiver
5-11, 170
Miami, Fla.
Southridge High School
High School: Invited to the Dade vs. South All-Star Game…plays wide receiver and defensive back…is also a kickoff returner and returned a kickoff for a 73 yards touchdown in the playoff quarterfinals…Miami Southridge is in the Florida Class 6A semifinals…coach is Pierre Senatus.
Naim Jackson
Offensive Line
6-5, 270
Cincinnati, Ohio
LaSalle High School
High School: Three-star lineman by 247sports.com…finished senior season with 70-plus pancake blocks starting at left tackle…did not allow a sack in 14 games…played strongside defensive end and tackle…second-team Greater Catholic League South Division selection…helped LaSalle advance to the regional finals.
Maximillian Johnson
Defensive Back
6-0, 170
Middletown, Ohio
Middletown High School
High School: Three-star athlete by 247sports.com…finished senior season with 678 receiving yards and seven touchdowns...also had 489 return yards and two return touchdowns…all-district selection…helped the Middletown qualify for the first round of the OHSAA Division I playoffs.
Malachi Lewis
Quarterback
6-4, 195
Montclair, N.J.
Homestead High School
High School: Selected to play in the 2024 Miami All-Star Game…at Montclair, passed for 2,220 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior…also rushed for 213 and five scores…was named All-New Jersey and All-Essex County…helped lead the Mounties to the New Jersey North 1 Group 5 finals.
Emy Louis Jr.
Wide Receiver
5-11, 166
Pickerington, Ohio
Pickerington North High School
High School: Honorable-Mention Division I Central District selection…helped North post an 11-3 record reaching the Division I region final.
Max Patterson
Offensive Line
6-7, 265
Dublin, Ohio
Dublin Coffman High School
High School: Was a standout right tackle…named All-OCC honorable mention as a senior…also played tight end during high school career…was part of the Dublin Coffman team that advanced to the regional semifinals.
Preston Penn
Linebacker
6-3, 220
Gahanna, Ohio
Gahanna Lincoln High School
High School: Three-star linebacker by 247sports.com and On3.com…as a senior, was a second-team Ohio Capital Conference selection (Ohio Division)…helped lead Gahanna to a 12-1 record in 2023…coach was Bruce Ward.
Alex Reese
Tight End
6-6, 215
Martins Ferry, Ohio
Martins Ferry High School
High School: Two-star tight end by 247sports.com…played tight end and defensive end…as a senior, named the Division V co-Defensive Player of the Year...first-team All-Ohio Division V selection...named East District Division V Tri-Defensive Player of the Year…tabbed first-team all-district as a defensive lineman…as a junior, was a Ohio first-team Division VI selection…led the Purple Raiders with 86 tackles, 34 TFLs and 13 sacks…also a standout basketball player…as a junior, named second-team Division III All-Ohio…averaged 25.9 points per game…was Special Mention All-Ohio as a sophomore.
Jeremiah Sanders
Wide Receiver
6-3, 185
Cincinnati, Ohio
Mount Healthy High School
High School: Two-star wide receiver by 247sports.com…as a senior, had 26 catches for 506 yards and six touchdowns…was a key contributor for the Mount Healthy team that advanced to the regional semifinals…as a junior, registered 24 catches for 376 yards and four scores…coach was Jordan Stevens.
Stephen Sims
Wide Receiver
5-10, 170
Warren, Ohio
Warren Harding High School
High School: Played wide receiver and defensive back at Harding as a senior…helped Harding advance to the second round of the 2024 OHSAA playoffs…named a finalist to the WKBN top 22 players list…as a senior, had 71 rushes for 294 yards and two touchdowns…caught 16 passes for 217 yards and two scores…on defense, was credited with 42 tackles (23 solos)…as a junior at Girard High School, was a third-team Ohio Division IV selection…was a first-team All-Northeast Inland District pick, was named All-Trumbull County and tabbed first-team All-Northeast 8 Athletic Conference…had 906 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns…totaled over 1,000 yards, 20 touchdowns and 90 tackles…Harding coach was Matt Richardson.
Justin Thomas
Defensive End
6-6, 250
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus Centennial
High School: Finished his senior season with 51 tackles, 13 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a forced fumble…played defensive end.
Bilal Tucker
Defensive Line
6-3, 305
Columbus, Ohio
Delaware High School
High School: Named second-team Division I All-Central District and was named first-team All-OCC as a senior…started on both the offensive and defensive lines throughout career.
Aden Vaughn
Defensive Back
6-1, 192
Dayton, Ohio
Wayne High School
High School: Second-team All-GWOC selection…honorable mention Division I All-Southwest District pick…credited with 72 tackles (41 solos), eight TFLs and had three interceptions…helped lead Wayne to the Division I regional finals…accounted for 31 total tackles (26 solos) and one interception during junior season.
Max Welter
Tight End
6-7, 215
Cincinnati, Ohio
LaSalle High School
High School: Played tight end, wide receiver and long snapper…second-team Greater Catholic League South Division selection as a wide receiver…caught 47 passes for 832 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games…helped LaSalle advance to the regional finals…one-handed reception against Elder was the No. 3 play of the Sports Center Top 10 on October 25…as a junior, was a first-team GCL South selection...had 45 catches for 604 yards and four scores…hauled in 10 catches for 131 yards at Detroit Central Catholic…also plays basketball.
Baron White
Defensive Back
6-2,175
Dayton, Ohio
Trotwood Madison
High School: Standout safety in high school…member of the Trotwood Madison team that qualified for the OHSAA playoffs.
Jackson Wiley
Wide Receiver
6-0, 165
Columbus, Ohio
Olentangy High School
High School: Three-star wide receiver by 247sports.com and on3.com…two-start prospect by rivals.com…named first-team All-OCC Cardinal Division and first-team all-district…as a senior, had 75 receptions for 1,152 yards and 15 touchdowns in 13 games…helped Olentangy qualify to the first round of the OHSAA playoffs…as a sophomore, caught 51 passes for 645 yards and six TDs…coach was Wade Bartholomew…also plays basketball.
Father, Michael, played for Ohio State from 1996-99 and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys.
Jussiah Williams-West
Defensive Back
6-3, 180
Dayton, Ohio
Wayne High School
High School: Three-star safety by 247sports.com and on3.com…two-star prospect by rivals.com…as a senior, was a first-team All-Ohio Division I selection...aslo a first-team Division I All-Southwest District pick…first-team All-GWOC selection…had 67 tackles (38 solos) and four interceptions…helped lead Wayne to the Division I regional finals…was also a kickoff returner…honorable-mention All-Southwest District honoree as a junior…had 35 tackles (21 solos) and two interceptions.
Michael Wright Jr.
Defensive Line
5-11, 285
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon Washington High School
High School: Two-star defensive lineman by 247sports.com…as a senior, was a first-team All-Ohio Division II selection...was a first-team Division II All-Northeast Inland District pick…as a junior, helped lead the Tigers to the Division II State championship…marked the first title in school history in 53 years…was a first-team Division II All-Ohio, All-Northeast Inland District and All-County pick…had 25 tackles (15 solos), 20 TFLs, 13 sacks, 20 QB hurries and forced four fumbles…scored nine touchdowns as a fullback…was a four-year starter on the defensive line…had 19 career sacks…coach was Nate Moore.
