Marcus D. Green of Natchez is going from being a Bulldog to a Wolf to a Penguin. Green committed to Youngstown State where he will play football for the traditional I-AA power.

Green was caught by surprise at the offer from Youngstown.

&uot;I&160;was out to the field for a meeting when I heard someone yell, ‘Hey, 98, come here.’&uot;

Green’s number in 98.

&uot;I was a coach from Youngstown who told me he was watching a film on another player and saw me and liked the way I played,&uot; Green said. &uot;I went up there for a visit last week and loved it. He told me they had a linebacker position open for me.&uot;

Green was the second-leading tackler at Co-Lin this past season with 104 total stops, 47 of which were solo.

Youngstown State defeated Steve McNair and Alcorn State in the first round of the playoffs in 1994 on its way to the national championship.

The Penguins won more games (100) than any other I-AA program in the 1990s.

Youngstown lost to Georgia Southern 59-24 in the I-AA championship game in December.

The Penguins gave up only 166 rushing yards per game during the 1999 season.

Co-Lin finished 5-5 this past season.

&uot;Playing football at Co-Lin was a good experience,&uot; Green said. &uot;It was a good jump for me. It helped me succeed in a number of ways. It helped me get faster, bigger and stronger.&uot;

Green will graduate from Co-Lin in May.

&uot;You had to maintain a certain grade point average to play football because the main thing you are is a student-athlete,&uot; Green said.

Green said he may major in natural resources.

&uot;I’m planning on spending the summer in Ohio,&uot; he said.

Green knows he will have two more major adjustments when he gets to Youngstown.

&uot;I have never played in the real cold or on turf, so that’s something I’m going to have to get attuned to.&uot;

Green said he will play inside or outside linebacker.

&uot;I need to try and get my time down from 4.6 (in the 40) to 4.5,&uot; he said.

Green knows he will have to raise his game another notch.

&uot;I expect it to be tougher, but I’m expecting to be starting when the season starts,&uot; he said.