SLIPPERY ROCK - If he's carrying the fate of Slippery Rock University's running game on his shoulders, Josh Kniess isn't showing it.

And that's no surprise to his coach.

"Josh Kniess is the most unassuming college football player in the country," SRU coach George Mihalik said.

The 5-foot-8, 190-pound Kniess isn't the only running back on the squad, but he is the only one with any kind of collegiate experience at the position.

Brandon Markus is graduated. Mike Vernillo is no longer with the program. Besides Kniess' team-leading 627 yards rushing last year, SRU's next most productive returning runner on the roster is senior Valdez Hails - who gained eight yards on two carries a year ago.

Larvon Hines, a 5-9, 185 red-shirted freshman, figures to challenge for playing time and is a breakaway threat. But still, he is a red-shirted freshman.

"We're looking to develop either Valdez or Larvon as a second back," Rock offensive coordinator Vic Campagna said. "But there's no question Josh is our No. 1 back.

"He came into camp as our No. 1 guy and he's done nothing to lose that spot."

Kniess said he figures to get more carries this season, but isn't convinced that will become reality.

"I'm prepared to do it," he said. "I'm a little bigger and a lot stronger. But whatever happens, happens.

"The best back will be getting the football. If someone emerges who's better than me, he should get the carries. You won't hear me complain."

Kniess has rushed for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first two years at The Rock. His 1,082 all-purpose yards last year nearly doubled his nearest challenger on the team.

And he was working out daily at SRU all summer, well before camp opened.

"Some players can sense when it's their time to shine and Josh may be doing that," Campagna said. "He's got the strength and durability to put together a 1,000 yard season."

Mihalik practically expects such numbers.

"I'm anticipating Josh will have a very, very good year," he said. "When you look at the kid, you don't think he can do it, but he'll fool you.

"We've never had a running back here who can change direction like he can. We've never had a running back here who can accelerate downfield like he can.

"Josh hit the hole quickly last year. He'll hit it even quicker this year," Mihalik added.

Kniess was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash early in camp."We have to be able to run the football," Kniess said. "For our quarterback to be able to do his thing, the running game has to do its thing."We'll have a two-back rotation of some sort. I just want to be productive when I'm out there."He may be out there more than he realizes.Campagna said Kniess may be in the lineup more than every other series."We used four backs last year and that didn't work," Campagna said. "One of our other backs will join Josh in some sort of rotation, but it may just be for a small part of the time."It's early in camp and that hasn't been decided yet. We're keeping all options open."Kniess has come a long way since joining The Rock in 2002, two years after rushing for more than 2,100 yards as a senior at Slippery Rock High School."Josh Kniess has matured in a lot of ways, physically and mentally," Mihalik said. "He's gained 20 pounds since his freshman year here and it's all muscle."He'll never be the kind of player who stands out and hollers. He leads by doing it. No freshman comes in and just takes over … That's the year a kid spends trying to prove himself."When Josh was named second team All-PSAC West last year, it showed him he belonged. There are a lot of great backs in this league and that recognition meant a lot to him," Mihalik added.Kniess returned two punts for touchdowns last year. He averaged 23 yards per kick return and 13 yards per punt return in 2003."I like to return kicks and I hope I get the chance to do it some more," Kniess said. "But there's a lot of competition for those jobs."Running back may be a different story."Josh has a chance to continue our tradition of excellent running backs at this university," Mihalik said. "He's hungry. He knows this is his time and I'm excited about that."