YOUNGSTOWN - No one can ever accuse Youngstown State University football coach Eric Wolford of being shy when giving his opinion.
After announcing the addition of 23 recruits Wednesday on national signing day, Wolford couldn't help but show his pleasure. He had just finished witnessing a video displaying the talents of each recruit.
"You sit there and look at the tape of what we have there, it's really overwhelming," Wolford said. "As I sit there and look at it, I'm like, 'Wow, we really nailed it.'
"This recruiting class really gives us a chance to strike at a championship. That's what the standard is here."
This is Wolford's third recruiting class since replacing Jon Heacock as coach in December of 2009. Although some of Heacock's recruits are still on the roster, the majority of the players next season will be those brought in by Wolford.
"We're getting closer," Wolford said of having his total imprint on the roster. "I'll have a much better gauge of where we are in the spring. From day one when I took this job I told our football team that this is our team. Our kids have bought in, and the ones that haven't have left."
This year's class includes 13 defensive players and 10 offensive players. There are five defensive linemen, five defensive backs and three linebackers. The offensive breakdown includes five linemen, three receivers, one tight end and one quarterback. With plenty of depth at running back, Wolford didn't see a need to add to that area.
Wolford went out of state to sign 18 of the recruits, including seven each from Pennsylvania and Florida. He landed two from California, one from Michigan and one from Indiana. Ohio is represented with five players, including Cardinal Mooney defensive linemen Austin Trgovich.
"We have to be able to recruit nationwide," Wolford said. "We have to be able to go to California and get a couple of good players that people have missed on or they weren't able to find. We felt we got to the areas we needed. We continue to watch tape, and wherever the best player is from, that's where we have to go."
The class includes four players that are currently enrolled at YSU safety Chris Charles of Coral Springs Charter in Pompano Beach, Fla., cornerback Julius Childs of Lynwood High School in Los Angeles, safety Twin Fernandes of Compton College in Los Alamitos, Calif., and linebacker Terry Johnson of Countryside High School in Pinellas Park, Fla.
Charles, Fernandes, defensive lineman Brandon Davis of the College of DuPage/Joilet Junior College in Fort Wayne, Ind., and offensive lineman Dana Harris of Madison Heights High School in Detroit will be juniors. Childs will be a sophomore.
Wolford made a concerted effort to bring in linemen with size so that the Penguins can compete favorably with some of the NCAA FCS powers. Four of the five offensive linemen weigh more than 300 pounds. Only Mac Wightman of Avon Lakes in Ohio weighs less than 300 (295).
With the offensive line expected to be filled with seniors next season, Wolford could redshirt each of the five and prepare them to contend for starting spots in the 2013 season.
"North Dakota State won the national championship," Wolford said. "They're definitely one of the bigger teams in the league. If you want to make a run at winning the championship, you have to be in the ball game. This group is going to give us that."
Wolford stayed close to home to land defensive lineman Matt Bell of Hermitage, Pa. The 6-4, 285-pound Bell was a first team Class AA All-Pennsylvania selection as an offensive lineman.
The 6-0, 185-pound Fernandes is one of the more intriguing newcomers. He was a unanimous selection as the Mountain Conferencee
American Division Defensive Player of the Year, leading his team with 85 tackles.
Charles (6-0, 195) was a first team Midwest Football Conference selection. He was credited with 65 tackles.
Johnson (6-2, 200) was the "St. Petersburg Times" Pinellas County Defensive Player of the Year. He registered 95 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Trgovich (6-3, 285) was a first team Division III All-Ohio selection as an offensive lineman. He helped lead Mooney to a state championship.
Wightman was a two-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines.
Christian Wilson (6-6, 320) from McKeesport, Pa., was rated No. 134 among offensive tackles by "scout.com." He's considered among the top FCS tackles in the country.
The Penguins don't need a quarterback with junior redshirt Kurt Hess returning, but Wolford was looking ahead when he landed Nick Wargo of Walsh Jesuit in Stow, Ohio. Wargo (6-3, 215) completed 89-of-137 passes for 1,331 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He passed for 242 yards and four touchdowns against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Wolford could concentrate more on Ohio players in the future, but he said it might be risky.
"Ohio is over-recruited," he said. "There could be a lot of people that get offered scholarships here in Ohio from schools that are MAC (Mid American Conference) schools that we don't offer. We're going to our standards of winning a championship.
"If you're going to continually try to beat North Dakota State and Northern Iowa, who have fared well against Big Ten teams, you better be recruiting high-level players. You might have to reach out to your resources in other areas of the country."
NOT COMING BACK: Linebacker Davion Rogers of Warren G. Harding has decided to leave the program. Wolford didn't explain why Rogers made the decision. Rogers transferred to YSU from Michigan.
SPRING BALL: The Penguins will begin spring practice March 21. The annual Red-White scrimmage is set for April 13.
