MEADVILLE — Three years, three positions, one goal.

Tristan Rhoades has managed to stay focused on all of them.

The Karns City graduate started at cornerback his freshman football season at Allegheny College. He made 29 tackles and had two interceptions.

He moved to strong safety last season and led the Gators with 69 tackles.

“Those first years were all about gaining the respect of the coaches and proving myself on the field,” Rhoades said. “It was important for me to do that.

“But I've always been partial to the offensive side of the ball. I love playing offense. After last year, I met with the coach and asked for a shot at an offensive position.”

The coach, B.J. Hammer, took no offense by the request.

“It actually worked out for us as a team,” Hammer said. “We lacked depth at wide receiver and Tristan filled a much-needed role.

“He is such an athlete. I feel like he can play anywhere.”

Rhoades played slot receiver for Allegheny this season and was second on the team with 41 catches for 759 yards and five touchdowns.

He's doing all of this while majoring in biology and carrying a 3.6 grade point average — along with dealing with injuries. Rhoades has taken aim on a medical career since the day he arrived on campus.

“I had hamstring issues my senior year at Karns City and the same thing flared up my freshman year in college,” Rhoades said. “Then I got a hip pointer my sophomore year, rolled my ankle ... All of those things cost me a few games.”

The hamstring injury in high school may have cost Rhoades a chance to play college football in a higher division.

“Tristan has exceptional ability,” KC coach Ed Conto said. “He missed games with that hamstring injury his senior year and college scouts couldn't totally check him out. I thought he'd be a solid Division II football player because he can play so many roles on either side of the ball.”

Rhoades is fine with Allegheny. The coach who recruited him — Mark Matlak — was gone after his freshman year and the Gators won three games this year.

This is the first year Allegheny won more than one game in a season since 2012.

“Before the recruiting process, I didn't know Allegheny even existed,” Rhoades admitted. “Coach Matlak put me in touch with a couple of Allegheny alums who played football there and are now in medical school.”

“That clinched it for me. For what I want to do with my life, Allegheny was the perfect fit.”

Rhoades is looking to get into sports medicine, join a family practice or become a physician's assistant down the road.

He's been playing football since third grade, when he joined the Karns City Blue Devils.

“Often times, I think good students use athletics as a form of an outlet, a release,” Conto said. “Tristan is one of those kids who just let it go on the football field. Kids like him invest a lot of time and concentration on academics. Athletics serve as a counter for them.”

Rhoades plays alongside receiver Alex Victor, who compiled 52 catches for 1,037 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore this season. Running back Tyler Balla (955 yards, 10 TDs) and quarterback Logan Lee (3,002 yards passing, 33 TDs) are back as well.

“We only lose one senior starter,” Hammer said. “I can see this program turning the corner next year and Tristan will be one of our leaders.

“I've put these guys through difficult workouts ... six days a week, early morning ... Tristan has never missed one despite all of his classroom work, labs, etc. His dedication is exemplary and it rubs off on the other guys..”

Rhoades raves about Victor, saying “the guy is 5-foot-4, 140 pounds soaking wet, but he runs great routes.

“We've become good friends. We work out together and he's shown me a lot about being a receiver.”

Rhoades joked about playing a fourth different position in four years come next season,

But it's only a joke.

“I think I'll stay where I'm at and finish with a bang,” he said.