| Michael Yancich |
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As the 2010 season began and unfolded, the tight end position was rocked by graduation and injuries. Gone from the 2009 squad were NFL draftees Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler. The most experienced returnee, Andrew Szczerba, wasn't able to practice all season due to a back injury. And then redshirt freshman Garry Gilliam suffered a serious knee injury in the Big Ten-opener and was lost for the season. The depletion of depth brought about the shifting of Nate Cadogan to tight end last season and linebacker Michael Yancich prior to practice this past spring. Yancich made a quick transition and should have an opportunity to make an immediate impact, with Cadogan and Kevin Haplea the lone returnees with any experience. A tough, talented and instinctive player, Yancich earned All-America and all-state honors at Trinity HS. He is among 17 Nittany Lion returnees from Western Pennsylvania.
2010 Junior Season
Yancich appeared in all 13 games as a linebacker and key member of the special teams units. He made four tackles (three solo). He made his first career tackle at Iowa and had a big stop on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter of the Michigan State contest. Yancich recorded two solo hits against Florida in the 2011 Outback Bowl. He saw action on 179 snaps last year, topped by 23 against Youngstown State, 19 against the Gators and 17 in the Illinois game.
2009 Sophomore Season
Yancich played in 10 games, gaining experience and providing depth for the talented linebacker unit that featured a trio of All-Big Ten players. He also saw duty on special teams. Yancich saw his most playing time in the wins over Akron, Eastern Illinois and Michigan.
2008 Freshman Season
Redshirt season. In the 2009 Blue-White game, Yancich led the Blue team with four solo tackles.
High School
Playing for Coach Ed Dalton, Yancich was a standout at Trinity HS. He was selected an All-American by Tom Lemming and was named to the Offense-Defense All-America team. He also was a Class AAA first-team Associated Press all-state and PA Football News All-Pennsylvania first-team linebacker. Yancich was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and was the Washington Observer-Reporter Player-of-the-Year in 2007. A first-team all-conference linebacker and running back, he was the 2007 Big 7 Conference Offensive MVP. He recorded 271 career tackles, with 30 sacks and four interceptions. As a senior, he made 134 stops, with 17 sacks and two picks. Yancich also gained 2,133 career rushing yards with 25 touchdowns, including 1,617 yards and 21 scores as a senior. A senior captain, he twice led Trinity to the WPIAL district Class AAA quarterfinals. He played in the 2008 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, helping the East squad to victory. Yancich also played two years on the basketball squad.
Personal
Full name is Michael Thomas Yancich. He is the son of Tom and Mary Lynn Yancich. His mother is a special education teacher. He has an older sister, Jamie Lynn. Yancich enjoys hunting, fishing, movies and music. He is a rehabilitation services major. Born July 3, 1989 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
