Butler County will have an impact on the PSAC West this season.

As many as 10 former Butler County area high school football players may serve as at least part-time starters for their respective West Division teams.

Among the definite starters are Slippery Rock linebacker Bob Vernick from Butler, Clarion center Cameron Cress and left tackle Shane Cress from Mars, Clarion defensive lineman Matt Koerper from Seneca Valley, Gannon cornerback Foster Reznor from Grove City and Mercyhurst fullback-tight end Donny Holl from Seneca Valley.

The Cress brothers are two of 11 players on Clarion's roster from Butler County.

“I played against a lot of those guys in high school,” Cameron Cress said. “We were rivals then. Now we're on the same team, I'm a little older than some of them and I try to help them out whenever I can.

“We're all from the same area and we all love football.”

Koerper, a junior defensive tackle, had 30 tackles — including five for loss — for the Golden Eagles last season.

“Matt has come a long way,” first-year Clarion head coach Chris Weibel said. “He cracked our lineup last year and we're looking at him as one of our anchors on that side of the ball this year.”

Reznor, a sophomore, saw action in 10 games as a freshman last year for a Gannon team that finished 9-2. He made 12 tackles, including nine solo stops.

“He's got a lot of speed and he's been working hard since he got here,” Gannon coach Brad Rzyczycki said of Reznor. “He's earned a starting corner spot. Foster brings a lot of athleticism and play-making ability there.”

Holl scored his first career collegiate touchdown last year at the University of Michigan's Big House. He went on to register nine catches for 76 yards and four TDs for Mercyhurst.

Holl played in all 11 games for the Lakers, starting three of them.

“Donny is a fifth-year senior and a great leader for us,” Mercyhurst coach Marty Schaetzle said. “He's a smart player and he'll serve as a part-time starter at tight end and fullback.

“He can help us at both spots. He's going to play a lot.”

So, too, will Mars graduate and Mercyhurst sophomore safety Alex Smith. The Lakers graduated their starting safeties and Smith is in the mix as a potential starter there. His brother, Chris, is back there as well.

Seneca Valley graduate and Slippery Rock offensive lineman Dean Ketterer is a likely startercat center or tasckle as SRU is battling early camp injuries along its offensive line.Slippery Rock High grad and SRU freshman offensive lineman Colten Raabe is among those casualties, suffering a torn ACL. He is out for the season.

“This could be a breakout year for Dean,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “He is one of the strongest guys on the team and has great athletic skills.

“We graduated our two starting guards and Colten was physically strong enough as a true freshman to challenge for one of those spots.”

At Clarion, Freeport graduate Shane McKillop is a likely starter at right guard while Mars grad Jake Tumminello is challenging for a spot at defensive end.

“McKillop is a big kid with a lot of potential,” Weibel said. “Tumminello is just a football player who keeps improving every day. He's got a lot of upside.”

Other area high school graduates on Clarion's roster are quarterbacks Lane Cicciarelli (Union) and Jordan Cratty (Butler), defensive linemen Chris Huselton (Butler) and Justin Hutchinson (Karns City), safety Canan Roskovski (Butler) and linebacker Tucker VanDyke (Seneca Valley).

Freshman fullback Jeremy Hanford (Butler) is with Mercyhurst and senior defensive back Brian Wahl-Schwartz (Seneca Valley) is with Indiana.

“He'll see some special teams play with us and he's a back-up cornerback,” IUP coach Curt Cignetti said. “He's a walk-on in our program and he's done a good job.”