Jan. 27, 2010
Three Former Penguins to Appear in OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl
Youngstown -- Former Youngstown State football players Kevin Smith (San Diego, Calif.), Aaron Pitts (Marion, Ohio) and Crispin Fernandez (Porterville, Calif.) were named to the OhioCollegeFootball.com Senior Bowl roster, the website announced on Wednesday.
The former Penguins will take the field for the North squad at Marv Moorehead Stadium in Upper Arlington on April 20, at 1 p.m. The game is set to be televised on Sports Time Ohio.
During the 2009 season Smith, a tailback, started in nine out of 10 contests rushing for a team-high 780 yards on 182 rushes. Smith scored four touchdowns, caught 15 passes for 92 yards, had four 100-yard rushing games and had a season-high in carries 28 for 113 yards versus Western Illinois. He had a season best in yards (121) on 27 rushes versus Illinois State and finished the year with 872 all-purpose yards. Smith earned his second letter and was named team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
Fernandez, a defensive tackle, during the 2009 season started in nine out of 10 contests. Fernandez finished the season with 23 total tackles, was credited with nine solo stops and 14 assisted collars, had a season-high five tackles at UNI and had a season-high two solos versus Missouri State. Fernandez was named the YSU Jermaine Hopkins Defensive Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season and earned his second letter.
During the 2009 season Ohio native and wide receiver Pitts played in all 11 games, starting against Pitt and South Dakota State. Pitts caught a career-best 33 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a high of seven passes for a best of 102 yards at SIU and caught passes in 10 of 11 games, and completed a 19-yard pass to quarterback Brandon Summers on a trick play at Northeastern. Pitts earned his third letter and was recipient of team’s Dr. Spurgeon Torchbearer Award.