LEETSDALE — Unlike some WPIAL football stars from 2017, Ricky Guss waited patiently before deciding where he'll continue his academic and athletic career. But he always felt it would be Youngstown State.
So on Tuesday, just 27 days before Quaker Valley holds its graduation ceremony, Guss will sign his national letter of intent.
"There's nothing wrong with deciding later," said Guss, who, as a quarterback and middle linebacker last fall led Quaker Valley to the most successful season in school history. "I'm still going to be there with everyone else who signed earlier."
On national signing day on Feb. 6, Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini announced the signing of 10 prospects. The Penguins also signed 12 others in the early signing period in December.
As of now, Guss is the only WPIAL player in YSU's 2018 recruiting class.
"I had a strong feeling for quite awhile that Youngstown State was the place I wanted to go," said Guss, The Times' 2017 Football Player of the Year.
"But with the long season we had in basketball and the long season we had in football, I didn't have the opportunity to focus on recruiting. But I never worried about it. In my heart, I always knew that it would be Youngstown State."
In football, Quaker Valley's season didn't end until Dec. 9 when the Quakers beat Middletown, 41-24 in the state 3A championship game. Three weeks before the trip to Hershey, QV edged Aliquippa 2-0 in the WPIAL final at Heinz Field. It was the Quaker's first ever appearance in a WPIAL championship game.
Six days after the state championship win, Guss played his first basketball game. Basketball season didn't end until March 19, when the Quakers lost to Sharon in the state semifinals.
In football, Guss was co-captain on a 14-1 team. In basketball, he was a power forward/co-captain on a team that finished 26-2.
Even though he was a prolific dual threat as a passer and runner while playing quarterback, Guss will play defense at the next level. He'll probably start out at outside linebacker.
Guss plans on reporting to Youngstown State by June 11 for summer classes and conditioning workouts.