Youngstown State Penguins Defensive Players to Watch vs. Ohio State

Defensive back Jordan Trowers returns after leading the Penguins with 40 solo tackles, while defensive end Dylan Wudke looks to add more sacks to his career totals.

Youngstown State will need a big game from each of their top performers if it is to upset Ohio State, including (and especially) on defense.

The Penguins finished 34th in the country out of 123 ranked teams, and second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), in first-down defense last season. Youngstown State also ranked among the nation's 30 best teams in rushing defense (22) and recovered fumbles (29).

Below are three of the players whom the Penguins will need to shine in order to defeat the Buckeyes come September 9.

DE Jordan Trowers

Trowers was a major part of Youngstown State's passing defense last season, and will have to play a big part again this year.

The Youngstown native led his teammates in both solo and total tackles with 40 and 52 respectively. Even against No. 9-ranked Kentucky, Trowers finished with seven solo tackles and four assists, along with a forced fumble.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Trowers is one of the best on the team in disrupting passes despite his smaller stature and will be heavily relied on to cover the top Buckeyes wide receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

DE Dylan Wudke

Wudke was a bloodhound in 2022, sniffing out and bringing down the most quarterbacks of any Penguins defensive player with five sacks.

The massive sophomore was in on 42 tackles during the 2022 campaign, forcing two fumbles (one of which he recovered) and batting down two passes as well.

Wudke earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors following Youngstown State's 45-24 win over South Dakota State on October 29, 2022. In that game alone, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end had five solo tackles and two sacks.

Wudke will have to muster that same energy and more to beat Ohio State's stout offensive line and get to the Buckeyes' still-undetermined starting quarterback.

DB Quincy Lenton

Lenton is one of a handful of Penguins to record a pair of interceptions last season, however, he is the only one to return a pick for more than ten yards. Actually, a lot more than ten yards.

With just under seven minutes remaining in the opening quarter of a game against Dayton, the 6-foot-1 senior telegraphed a pass from Flyers quarterback Dante Casciola.

Lenton took the ball 22 yards in the other direction and set up the Penguins for what would be a touchdown-scoring drive. Youngstown State went on to win, 49-16.

Lenton will have to reach deep into his bag of playmaking tricks at least a couple of times in order to swing momentum to his guys and give the Penguins a fighting chance.

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