By RUSTY MILLER
Bo Pelini’s first recruiting class at Youngstown State was heavy on the local flavor.
Pelini, fired in December after seven seasons and a 67-27 record at Nebraska, was hired last month as the head coach at Youngstown State. The president of YSU is former Ohio State coach and Hall of Famer, and also an ex-YSU coach, Jim Tressel.
In a 30-player recruiting class, 19 of them were from Ohio including several from within a few miles of campus. Pelini is a Youngstown native, so he knows the quality of football in the area.
“I like the group of kids that’s coming in,” Pelini said on Wednesday. “For me, it’s highlighted first and foremost by some local kids.”
The 47-year-old Pelini said that when he first looked at the roster, he realized that not only did the Penguins _ who faltered in recent years under fired head coach Eric Wolford _ need more talent but they also needed more athletes around which to build.
“In my opinion, recruiting doesn’t end today,” he said. “It really starts today because now with these young men, it’s time now to get ‘em going, get ‘em coached up, to really focus our efforts on the young men who are on campus. We want to hit the offseason, get ready for spring practice and start getting this football team ready for next fall.”