It was another successful season for the Slippery Rock University football team in 2023, but two main goals were left unachieved.
The Rock’s only two losses of the year came against Kutztown in the program’s two biggest games of the season. The first came in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship, and the other occurred at home in the Division II quarterfinals.
“Our goals were to win the PSAC, we won the West five years. We got in the national tournament five years,” Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said. “I still don’t know how we lost that (quarterfinal). We turn the ball over three times, they only get two first downs in the second half, we outgained them by 300 yards and we lost that game.
“Our goal is to compete for a PSAC championship and compete for a national championship. We’ve been to the elite eight, the final four. I still have that goal in our program. We left a lot on the table, and it’s a new season.”
Brayden Long returns at quarterback after a breakout season in 2023. He was named the PSAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year following his first season as the starter. Long received a few postseason honors, including PSAC West and Super Region One Offensive Athlete of the Year. He was also named first team All-PSAC and all-region.
In his first full-time season, he completed 69.4 percent of his passes for 3,808 yards, 35 touchdowns and six interceptions. His completion percentage was fourth best in the nation, his passing TDs were fifth best and his passing yards were sixth. His 3,808 yards and 35 TD passes both rank No. 2 in SRU single-season history.
A finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Long helped lead The Rock to the 10th-best scoring offense in Division II, averaging 40.9 points per game.
“When you got your quarterback back that has been the guy and going into his last year, you gotta feel good about your football team,” Lutz said. “He’s smart, he’s intelligent and he’s only gonna be better.”
Long should get some help from his backfield mates. SRU finished last season with the top rushing attack in the PSAC. The Rock ran for 2,590 yards last season — 185 yards per game — and its 42 rushing scores were the fourth best in DII.
Leading rusher Khalid Dorsey and his 984 yards and 12 TDs graduated. But Chris D’Or returns after a 750-yard, 10-touchdown season.
The Rock was also the beneficiary of an upsetting story in Division II. Idris Lawrence ran for 127.2 yards per game — the fourth best in Division II, equating to 1,145 yards — and nine touchdowns in nine games for Norte Dame College. However, Notre Dame College had to close its doors at the end of Spring 2024. Lawrence will continue his collegiate career as a senior in Butler County.
Lutz also has high hopes for redshirt freshman Quentin Harrison, who could add some bulk to the running back room with his 5-9, 220-pound frame.
Slippery Rock will be without an NFL talent in receiver Kyle Sheets, who opened camp with the Kansas City Chiefs. Local standout Colton Rossi (Wilmington High) also graduated, leaving a hole at left guard. But there is plenty of talent still left on the offensive line and the receiving corps.
Kam Kruzelyak is back after posting an All-American honorable mention season at tight end. He caught 46 passes for 465 yards and four touchdowns last season.
Logan Rampert is back after hauling in 32 passes for 417 yards and six scores as a redshirt sophom*ore receiver. Senior Tony Grimes played in all 14 games last year, but he was limited to 18 grabs for 177 yards and a TD. Lutz expects a bigger role in the slot with Cohen Russell — 73 catches, 1,114 yards and five touchdowns — gone due to graduation. Senior transfer Rashawn Harvey amassed 122 receptions for 1,667 yards and 11 touchdowns in 21 games over two-year career at West Liberty.
One receiver in position for a bigger role this season is Farrell High product Kylon Wilson. As a freshman, the former Steeler made his way onto the field as a returner. He ranked fourth in the DII with 793 combined punt and kickoff return yards. That is even more impressive since he never fielded a punt, instead all his return yards — second best in DII — came on 27 kickoffs.
Lutz said Wilson will be used on special teams, but there are packages and strategies being installed to get him the ball on offense.
“You basically just get him the ball anywhere you can, and he’s just gonna fly,” Lutz said. “I think he is a big time football player for us.”
Slippery Rock will have some fresh faces along the offensive line.
Redshirt junior tackle Joe Cooper is the lone returner up front after receiving second team All-PSAC honors last year. The other spots will be up for competition before the start of the season, and expect some young big men since there are only three seniors in the O-line room. The three seniors are center Cade Cameron (33 starts at Quincy University), Nate Waltman (appeared in 14 games in 2023) and Kendrick Wesley (appeared in 14 games last year.).
The Rock had some new faces on defense in 2023 as a retooling was needed. Lutz is confident that the experience and talent that began to produce last season will take a step forward this fall.
The secondary will feature a couple All-Americans in corners Josh Stokes and Eddie Faulker IV. Stokes, who was tied for eighth in DII with five interceptions, led the PSAC with 16 passes defensed. Faulker was tied for 14th in the division with four INTs.
Fellow corner Donnell Henriquez is back after recording 22 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups last year. Another local in Michael Henwood, a Hickory Hornet, who is expected to play safety.
“The defense is probably the strongest we’ve had in the last five, six, seven years,” Lutz said. “It starts in the secondary.”
Munchie Johnson will look to be a force again along the defensive line after making 63 stops and 12 tackles for loss last season. Daniel Tooson is back for his junior campaign after his 40-tackle season.
However, graduate student Todd Hill has Lutz excited after transferring from Pittsburgh. The edge rusher posted 144 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks in 31 games with Duquesne before moving to Pitt.
“He wanted to try the Division I higher level. Went to Pitt, didn’t play. We got Todd Hill back as a defensive end. We’re excited about him.”
Finally at linebacker, Andrew Vince is back as a junior. He made 62 tackles, eight for a loss, and picked up two sacks after transferring from Rutgers. He could be the frontrunner to replace leading tackler Kyle Kudla. Sophom*ores Max Heckert and Jacob Snow and senior Jake Miller will also see time at linebacker.
Mason Yohn returns for his sophom*ore year. He was the kicker and punter last season, averaging 36.1 yards per punt with only one touchback on 31 attempts. The Rock only attempted five field goals last season, but Yohn was 2 for 2 with a long of 28 yards.
The Rock will open play on Sept. 7 against New Haven before heading to Shepherd and Shippensburg, and then PSAC West play will start.
“We’re preseason ranked 10th in the country, but that doesn’t mean anything until you prove it,” Lutz said. “We already know the tradition of this program, and that’s never gonna change and what we’re gonna try to accomplish, but we’re gonna be workman-like, we’re gonna have fun and we’re gonna get after it.”
