Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes YSU defensive back Kerion Martin (4) celebrates after a turnover during the Penguins' fall camp practice on Monday at Stambaugh Stadium.

YOUNGSTOWN — It’s been an offseason of change for Youngstown State’s defense.

Of the 11 defensive players that started the Penguins’ season finale against Villanova in the FCS playoffs last season, just one still remains on the roster. Thirteen of YSU’s 14 leading tacklers from last year’s unit either graduated or transferred.

Dating back to spring practice and throughout fall camp, the Penguins have had position battles at just about every position on the defense as they try to find the right fit.

“There’s some position groups right now where I can’t tell you who’s going to be the starter. It’s going to come down to who practices best,” head coach Doug Phillips said. “That competition, it shows up in practice. I really like the work ethic and the competition that those guys have with each other. Going into the first game, I think we have good depth. There’s good numbers and we can trust the guys that go in.”

As YSU has worked to rebuild the defense throughout the offseason, defensive coordinator John Haneline said finding the right players in the right spots takes time, and it’s a process that will likely remain ongoing into the regular season.

“From my first meeting I ever had with the guys, I explained to them, I don’t need 11 starters. I need 22. We need 22 because we’re going to be involved in all the special teams,” Haneline said. “I think that’ll go through the whole year. I think the more we play with different guys in there and communicating, the better we can be defensively.”

There’s plenty of new faces that the Penguins will need to immediately become impact players.

Some are returners who have come up through the ranks of the depth chart and are now looking to make their mark, while others transferred into the program during the offseason to help fill positions of need up and down the roster.

With YSU’s desire to continue to focus on stopping the run, it starts up front with the defensive line.

“You measure toughness by can you stop the run, so we’re never going to get away from that,” Phillips said. “Can we limit explosive plays — you can stop the run all you want, but if you’re giving up a 40-yard pass, that defeats everything. The basis of defense is you gotta stop the run, then you gotta be sound in the back end, making sure there’s no blown coverages.”

Defensive linemen Jaelen Crider, Dawan Martin, Hunter Allen each saw considerable playing time last season as part of the Penguins’ two-deep. Now each of them will be called upon to take that step forward.

Allen had 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season, while Dawan Martin finished with 12 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

“When we look up front, Jaelen Crider played, now we’re asking him to play a bigger role,” Phillips said. “Then you’ve gotta manage your roster. We had to go and find guys (in the transfer portal). We found Joe Brown, a 330-pound defensive tackle that played at Northern Colorado, but he’s from Flint, Michigan, went to high school in Vegas, but he has relatives in Alliance, Ohio. So you’re always looking for those ties.”

Newly-elected defensive team captains defensive end Michael Voitus and linebacker Devin Johnson are also expected to see their roles significantly expand.

“(They have) investment in their teammates around them, and they try to bring guys together,” Haneline said. “A lot of times, the saying is leadership is lonely, but if you lead from a certain mindset, leadership isn’t lonely. You’re going to get more guys surrounding you. I just think their selflessness, their willingness to help a corner, help anybody, not just in their position group is outstanding. And I think that’s what drew those guys to them because it’s a whole new group of faces on our side of the ball. Nobody’s been put on a pedestal to get that.”

YSU has a plethora of options at linebacker. In addition to Johnson, Mike Wells, special teams captain Logan Pasco and Preston Zandier have each drawn praise from the coaching staff this fall, as they each look to take that next step.

Johnson, Wells, Pasco and Zandier combined for 32 total tackles last season.

“A guy like Mike Wells, he’s going into his third year and played special teams. I think he could be a special linebacker, now he’s getting the opportunity to be that linebacker,” Phillips said. “Devin Johnson was on every special teams, played linebacker last year, now it’s his time to step up and be able to shine.”

In the secondary, Jaylen Castleberry is YSU’s lone returning starter and is the team’s leading returning tackler (23 tackles) from last season. He also led the team with seven pass breakups.

Transfer defensive backs Stephon Hall (Pitt), Isaiah Hackett (UNLV) and Kerion Martin (Marshall) give the Penguins some much-needed pedigree and experience on the back end of the defense.

“I see those guys, they’re learning a whole new system, a whole new language, and it’s hard to play fast when you’re thinking,” Phillips said. “So it’s our job in the last week, going into game week next week that the thinking is done, then you can just react and play as fast as you can because I know they’re fast and I know they’re athletic.”

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