Youngstown State Head Football Coach Doug Phillips announced a talented group of signees for the Penguins' class of 2026 on Wednesday afternoon.
The class features a strong regional flare with additions from Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The group is comprised of 11 defensive players, nine offensive players and a long snapper
Below is a list of who has signed to join the YSU program:
Bray Adams
Defensive Back
6-1, 180
Lakewood, Ohio
St. Edward High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Helped lead St. Edward to the OHSAA Division I state semifinals…credited with 35 tackles on the season…coach was Tom Lombardo.
Caleb Anthony
Wide Receiver
5-8, 165
Columbus, Ohio
Africentric Early College High School
HIGH SCHOOL: First-team All-Ohio Division V selection as wide receiver during junior season…was a first-team All-Metro selection…Central Ohio Offensive Player of the Year…as a sophomore, was named first-team All-Ohio Division V as a defensive back.
Shane Cole
Quarterback
6-2, 185
Centerville, Ohio
Centerville High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Led Centerville to the Division I state semifinals as a junior…first time the Elks reached the state final since 1991.
Tyris Davis
Defensive Back
6-2, 195
Youngstown, Ohio
East High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout wide receiver and defensive back at East…registered 52 total tackles and had three interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a senior…hauled in 34 catches for 659 yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games for the Golden Bears as a junior…added 60 tackles with one sack, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Cason Diiulio
Quarterback
6-2, 205
Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Lutheran East High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Quarterback at Lutheran East as a senior…coach at Lutheran East was Tyler Curtain…as a junior at Medina, had 1,407 yards passing completing 155-of-311 passes…and 10 touchdowns…as a sophomore, was a second-team Division I Northeast Lakes All-District pick while at John Marshall.
Sirr Gibson
Wide Receiver
6-2, 180
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Cleveland Heights High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Honorable-Mention Division I Northeast Lakes District selection as a senior…named to the Greater Cleveland Conference all-league squad…in the regular season, caught 32 passes for 619 yards and seven touchdowns.
Marcus Henderson II
Defensive Line
6-3, 285
Akron, Ohio
Akron East High School
HIGH SCHOOL: First-Team Division III Northeast Inland District selection…tabbed the Beacon Journal's Defensive Player of the Year in the Akron area...first team All-Akron pick…helped the Dragons advance to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time in school history…program won the city championship in 2025…had 10 TFLs during the campaign.
Bryant Holland-Snowden
Defensive Back
6-2, 185
Roseville, Mich.
Roseville High School
HIGH SCHOOL: As a junior was an all-region selection…named to the Metro Detroit Football Dream Team…played wide receiver and defensive back.
Will Ki Gorman
Defensive End
6-3, 240
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Imani Christian Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: As a junior, was a first-team Allegheny 7 Conference selection…helped lead the Saints to the WPIAL AAA final as a senior…had 8.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs as a defensive end…program reached the WPIAL AAA semifinals in 2024.
Cameron Mallory
Defensive End
6-5, 235
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Shady Side Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, played defensive end and tight end…saw action at quarterback as a junior…coach was Andrew Geisler...multiple-sport athlete.
Michael McGlone
Long Snapper
6-3, 200
Youngstown, Ohio
Cardinal Mooney High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout long snapper, offensive lineman and defensive lineman for the Cardinals…posted a 4.5-star rating from the Rubio Long Snapping Camp…has also played wide receiver and defensive back…as a senior, helped lead the Cardinals to the state semifinals…coach as a senior was Frank Colaprete.
Zion Neal
Wide Receiver
5-9, 165
Cincinnati, Ohio
Princeton High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Played quarterback and wide receiver at Princeton as a senior…was also a kick returner…had 640 yards rushing on 72 attempts with 10 touchdowns…scored three touchdowns against Lakota East…had 251 yards receiving on 24 catches…added 241 yards passing…returned 11 punts for 158 yards and a touchdown…had 142 yards on six kickoff returns…as a junior, was a Division I second-team All-Southwest District selection at Lakota East.
Roderick Owens
Defensive Back
6-1, 185
Kettering, Ohio
Archbishop Alter High School
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, was a Division III All-Southwest District selection as an athlete…played cornerback and quarterback.
Ta'John Royster
Running Back
5-10, 180
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus East High School
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, had 629 yards receiving, 576 yards and scored 13 touchdowns…added 502 kickoff return yards…accounted for 1,707 all-purpose yards…also had 47 tackles.
Brody Rummler
Offensive Line
6-5, 260
Rochester, Mich.
Stoney Creek High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout offensive tackle and defensive end…coach was Rick Powell.
Bo Schaefer
Offensive Lineman
6-5, 270
Columbus, Ohio
Upper Arlington High School
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior, was a first-team All-OCC selection…named first-team All-Central district.
AJ Snyder
Defensive End
6-3, 235
Youngstown, Ohio
Ursuline High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Played defensive end, linebacker and tight end during Ursuline career…as a junior, had 81 tackles, 28 TFLs and eight sacks…helped the Irish advance to the Division III state semifinals in 2024.
Jack Tarkowski
Defensive Back
6-1, 196
Hartland, Wis.
Arrowhead High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Named WFCA Large School All-Wisconsin…first-team all-state as a defensive back…helped lead Arrowhead to the WIAA Division 1 state championship…also named first-team all-conference (Classic 8) and first-team all-region.
Marty Tobin
Running Back
5-11, 190
Akron, Ohio
Walsh Jesuit High School
HIGH SCHOOL: In the regular season, had 108 carries for 1,072 yards and scored 10 touchdowns…had a monster postseason effort to nearly double yards and touchdowns scored…added 22 carries for 199 yards and two touchdowns against Hoban…against Austintown Fitch, had 15 carries for 222 yards and three touchdowns…added a 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown…against Nordonia, ripped off 262 yards on 13 carries and had three touchdowns…also caught a touchdown pass helped lead Walsh Jesuit to the state semifinals…coach was Nick Alexander.
Brandon "BJ" Williams
Defensive Back
6-0, 180
Detroit, Mich.
Detroit Jesuit High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Was an MHFSCA Division 2 Region 3 selection as a senior defensive back…played defensive back and wide receiver…was an All-Catholic League selection.
Chad Woodfork II
Defensive Back
6-1, 180
Dublin, Ohio
Dublin Coffman High School
HIGH SCHOOL: Standout cornerback at Dublin Coffman…no TDs allowed as a corner during high school career…surrendered just 60 yards in receptions as a senior.
