SLIPPERY ROCK — The wait is over for Dean Ketterer.

The Seneca Valley graduate and Slippery Rock University junior is starting at left tackle for The Rock this season.

“It was a fight to get back,” the 6-foot-4, 275-pound Ketterer admitted. “I didn't have a very good season last year.”

Ketterer was primed to start up front — or at least see plenty of playing time — for SRU as a true freshman when he suffered a broken hand.

He's struggled to crack the lineup since.

“He was working at center and the hand he broke was the one that gripped the ball,” Rock offensive line coach Chris Conrad said. “He couldn't hold the ball to snap it.”

Joe LoSchiavo, a red-shirt junior, has since taken ownership of the center position for SRU. He is a returning starter there. Ketterer moved over to tackle.

“Dean can play anywhere up front. He's a versatile player and that versatility definitely helped him this year,” Conrad said.

Ketterer was competing for a starting spot in training camp this season when The Rock was hit by a couple of season-ending injuries. Kaleb Kingston, a 305-pound guard and would-be starter, and Slippery Rock High graduate Colten Raabe both needed knee surgery.

Raabe would have seen significant playing time as a true freshman.

“We had to find a way to get our five best linemen on the field and Dean was a part of that group,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

Kyle Henderson had started 25 consecutive games for The Rock at left tackle. He's sliding over to guard this season to make room for Ketterer.

“The big thing for us right now is to gain cohesion as a unit,” Ketterer said. “We've had guys shuffling around to different positions in practice, some guys missing time with injuries.

“We've got the talent and we're all in good condition. We have to be to run our offense.”

SRU churned out 460.8 yards per game last season, including 214 on the ground. Playing its up-tempo style enables the team to run 100 offensive plays or more in some games.

The team ran 100 plays in Saturday's season-opening 39-13 win at New Haven.

“Dean is one of the strongest players on this team,” Mihalik said. “You have to be able to finish off blocks and that mentality often times comes with maturity.

“He's reached that point. He's looked very good in camp.”

Ketterer believes he was on the verge of earning a starting job regardless of the team's injury situation.

“I was right there,” he said. “My mind-set coming into camp was to earn one of those starting spots. We had a veteran line last year and I just didn't do well enough to get on the field.”

The Rock's other starting tackle, Cory Tucker, is a preseason All-American and an all-conference player.

Conrad said Ketterer's development took off during preseason camp.

“He's continuing to develop and he's only going to get better,” the coach said. “Run block, pass block, he can do well at both.

“His athletic ability really helps him in our pass pro. Dean will do more than hold his own. I think he's primed for a good year.”

How good remains to be seen. And Ketterer isn't worried about it.

“All I'm into is helping us win games and lots of them,” Ketterer said. “If some nice honor for me personally comes from that, fine, but I want the wins.

“We're all on the same page there.”