Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State quarterback Mitch Davidson (14) unleashes a pass during a recent practice at Stambaugh Stadium.

YOUNGSTOWN — There’s no doubt that Youngstown State will put a premium on running the football in 2023.

Whether it’s Dra Rushton, Tyshon King, or either of the talented freshmen working behind them, Da’Shaun Whatley and Cephus Harris, the Penguins will continue to prioritize establishing the ground game as part of their attack.

But, tight end Jake Benio notes, this is a Penguin offense that fully expects to feature more balance than in years past.

“I feel that we can have a more balanced attack (in 2023),” Benio said. “Being able to run the ball as we’ve done the past couple of years is fantastic, but at the same time, now that we have Mitch back there, as an offense (we’re) really just growing into that (balanced approach). That really propelled us (in 2022), and I think we’re going to have a little more balanced attack this year.”

A more balanced approach was critical in the turnaround efforts of 2022. After inserting Davidson into the starting role midway through the game at North Dakota State, the offense finally began firing on more cylinders rather than relying on the lightning speed of Jaleel McLaughlin — who, by the way, made the Denver Broncos’ 53-man roster Tuesday.

Davidson started in Youngstown State’s final seven games, completing 119 of 201 passes for 1,613 yards and 12 touchdowns to just one interception and amassing a 5-2 record along the way.

It was the sort of rejuvenation in the passing game that YSU desperately needed, and it went so well that star receiver Bryce Oliver made the All-Missouri Valley First Team to conclude 2022.

Now, Benio says, it’s about continued improvement — and that’s something the offense expects of itself.

“I think we’ll be a lot better in that area — the deep ball, hitting short and intermediate routes, everything in general in the pass game,” he said.

Head coach Doug Phillips also expects growth.

“We’ve talked about getting the football downfield, and we’ve seen that we can get the ball downfield,” Phillips said. “I think even last year and in spring ball and going into fall camp, it prepares our receivers and our quarterbacks, and I feel we have guys — we call them 50/50 balls — and I feel like we should be 70/30. When we get the ball in the air, we should come down with it 60 to 70% of the time.”

That all should help the Penguins as they retool at the tailback position. With the graduation of McLaughlin, YSU is now turning to Rushton and King as the first and second stringers.

Rushton played in 10 games a season ago, tallying 329 yards on 71 carries. King, meanwhile, joined the Penguins as a transfer from Division II Northern Michigan, where he was a First Team All-Great Lakes selection. He ran for 984 yards on 182 carries and scored eight touchdowns.

Those two, along with some younger options behind them, give Phillips confidence that the Penguins can still be effective on the ground.

“I feel great that we can run the football efficiently,” Phillips said. “That means over four yards a gain, that’s what we want to average rushing the football.”

He also noted, “We feel we have a lot of different running backs. I don’t know if we have a running back where I’m going to give them 30 touches a game, but we have running backs that can carry (their load). If Dra gets his touches and Tyshon gets his touches in our run game and in our pass game, on third down and in the red zone, I feel real good about our running backs.”

And as the Penguins work to establish their new identity and mode of attack, Benio says they’re keeping one big thing in mind: “We’re not going to take anything from anybody else. We’re going to come out, punch you in the mouth and do our jobs and make sure you know who we are.”

The Penguins will look to let Valparaiso know just that at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at Stambaugh Stadium.