The off-season has brought many changes in the Youngstown State Football Program. It first started with the firing of Terry Grossetti. Then there was the departure of defensive coach Kenny McClendon, and YSU graduate and former NFL linebacker Tim Johnson. Now, even more news as YSU CB coach Ashton Youboty heads to Purdue in the same position.
YSU CB Coach Ashton Youboty Heads To Purdue
Youboty has a number of years of experience at the cornerback position ever since he played that position at Ohio State. From 2003 to 2005, Youboty was first-team Big Ten during his Junior season where he recorded 56 tackles, nine break ups and a interception.
NFL Career
The first stint for Youboty’s NFL career was being drafted in the third round by the Buffalo Bills. He played for Buffalo Bills from 2006 to 2010 before playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011. That season would be his final season in the league before taking on a career in coaching. His shining moment was in 2007 with the Bills in which he recorded 23 tackles and in 2011 where he recovered a fumble for a scoop and score against the Houston Texans.
Coaching Career
Youboty first started as a volunteer at Miami in 2016 in the recruiting department but moved up to coach the Badgers of Wisconsin. In 2019, he took the role of defensive analyst with the Badgers before heading to YSU under coach Doug Phillips. His two seasons as a penguin was a success. Keyon Martin was Honorable-Mention All-Missouri Valley Conference. Martin finished with 24 total tackles. 19 of them were solo with three pass break ups and a interception in the seven game shorten season. Troy Jakubec, the other corner had 17 tackles and an interception during the shortened season.
With the success Youboty had in the two seasons as a cornerback coach, its going to be interesting what happens with coach at Purdue. The Boilermakers finished 34th in Passes intercepted according to the NCAA statistics. Youboty has the opportunity to take this secondary to the next level and make them a threat on defense and in Big Ten play for the 2022 season.
Meanwhile for the Penguins of Youngstown State, they will have to find a replacement once again. They’ve found it in Strength with Jimmy Rodenberg, and on the defensive line in former Akron coach Deonte Gibson. Now, the Penguins need a defensive coordinator and a new cornerback coach. Time will tell, but it will have to happen before the Red and White game and fast as offseason workouts have already begun.
