SLIPPERY ROCK — The Rock was busy Wednesday.

Slippery Rock University's football program signed 29 players to national letters-of-intent, including seven offensive linemen, five linebackers and receivers, two quarterbacks and four other QBs who will change positions, and a potential starting punter-place-kicker.

Among the linebackers is Butler senior Tim Vernick, who recorded 30 tackles and four tackles for loss for the Golden Tornado last season.

“This is an opportunity for me,” Vernick said. “I kept all my options open and also considered Mercyhurst and Alderson-Broaddus, but Slippery Rock makes the most sense for me.

“They're looking at me as an outside linebacker and I'll have a chance to compete for time right away.”

Vernick's brother, Bob, will be a senior middle linebacker this fall as a third-year starter at SRU.

“That's an advantage for me, having Bob there,” Vernick said. “It will be cool to play football with him for a year and he'll be able to help me with the defensive schemes, time management, things like that.”

Vernick holds a 3.45 grade point average at Butler and plans to major in criminology.

“He has tremendous work ethic and a passion for the game like his brother,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said. “I never coached Bobby, but I've coached against him. Tim will find a way to get on the field up there.”

The recruiting class is the first under first-year head coach Shawn Lutz. George Mihalik retired as head coach in November after 28 seasons.

“This is one of the largest recruiting classes I can remember during my time here,” said Lutz, an assistant at The Rock for 19 years before being named head coach. “We had needs and we filled them.

“We're coming off one of the best years in program history and players want to come here.”

The Rock is coming off a 12-2 season, second consecutive PSAC championship and third successive NCAA Division II playoff appearance.

SRU is graduating 21 seniors from last year's team.

“We're losing four starting offensive linemen from last year and worked hard to get new guys in here,” Lutz said. “A couple of those guys, James Willard from Pine-Richland and Mike Arnold from Montour, could help us immediately.”

So, too, could running back Dontez Rash, a first team All-Ohio player from Cleveland Benedictine who was also offered by Duquesne. Pitt wanted him as a preferred walk-on.

“He's one of the best running back prospects we've ever brought in here,” Lutz said. “He could slide in as a solid back behind Shamar Greene next season.”

Four of this year's recruits, including kicker Jake Chupla, are from Plum High School. Chupla hit all 55 of his PATs and drilled 16 field goals, including a long of 51 yards, in his career with the Mustangs.

“He (Chupla) could have gone bigger, but our punter and kicker spots are open,” Lutz said. “He'll likely fill those spots for four years. The kid is outstanding.”

Plum was 6-4 a season ago, losing in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Three members of WPIAL Class AAAA runner-up Woodland Hills are joining The Rock. They are 6-foot-4, 355-pound offensive lineman Amon Youngblood, defensive back Daron Cooper and 287-pound defensive lineman Wilford Clark.

Cooper and linebackers Chad Kuhn (Kiski Area), Patrick Minenok (New Castle) and Santino Birty (Franklin Regional) were all quarterbacks in high school.

Youngblood is the fourth-ranked guard in the state by PA Preps.

The Rock quarterback recruits are Augustus Necastro of Brookfield (Ohio) and Nathaniel Musselman of Longanore, Md. Necastro was a first team All-Ohio selection and is Brookfield's all-time passing leader. He threw for 4,974 yards and 55 touchdowns in his prep career.

Musselman won all 20 of his regular season games over the past two years. He threw for 1,648 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago. Both quarterbacks are 6-foot-2.

“We're looking to red-shirt both of those guys,” Lutz said. “If they win the job in camp, they'll play now, but Don King (transfer for Sam Houston State) is joining us for a year, then those two will probably compete for the starting job (in 2017).”

King is a running and passing threat who is used to The Rock's offensive system. Former SRU offensive coordinator Phil Longo is in that same role at Sam Houston.

Two veteran receivers — Darren Massey (Edinboro) and Landon Yeartie (Akron) — have transferred to SRU as well.

“They will give us depth and give our five (receiver) recruits time to adapt and learn our system,” Lutz said.