Youngstown State Head Football Coach Bo Pelini announced last week that 11 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the Penguins program. Eight signed with YSU last week, while three are currently enrolled for the spring semester.
      Joining the YSU program were WR Stefan Derrick II, OL Norman Fox, CB Darius Hall, LB/RB Devon McNutt, P/PK Nate Needham, LB Malachi Newell, RB London Pearson and DL Jamal Smith.
      The three junior college players who are currently with the program are QB Trent Hosick, C Vitas Hrynkiewicz and CB Billy Nicoe Hurst.
      The Penguins open spring drills in mid-March with the annual Red-White Spring Game set for Fri., Apr. 15.
      Perhaps the big catch for the Penguins is quarterback Hosick. He was recruited to play at Missouri, but left the program after his freshmen year for Arizona Western, a junior college, where he played for two years.
      Hosick drew the interest of YSU Head Coach Bo Pelini while the coach was at Nebraksa. A variety of reports said the Hosick was planning to attend Brigham Young or San Diego State.
      After speaking with Pelini, Hosick made the move to Youngstown State, where he will be a junior and is expected to battle with two-year starting quarterback for the Pens, Hunter Wells, who displayed some timidness on running plays last season.
      Hosick is a thickly built QB with great athleticism and strength.
      In two seasons at Arizona Western, Hosick tossed for 2017 yards and 18 TDs and rushed for 855 yards and 14 TDs, despite injuries during his senior season, and taking over the quarterback duties as a freshman in mid-season.
      As a senior at Staley HS in Missouri, Hosick was one of 12 finalists for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award.
      His high school football coach, Fred Bouchard, said that Hosick is one of the most competitive players he’s ever coached, a player who loves winning.
      Hrynkiewicz is a 6-4, 304-lb. offensive lineman who comes to YSU after playing as Independence Community College in Kansas.
      Hurst is a 6-0, 190-lb. defensive back who comes to YSU from Contra Costa Community College in California, where he was an all-league pick as a sophomore, posting 44 tackles and three interception.
      Coach Pelini said he hopes to sign at least two more players to the Penguin roster this spring.