Mark Rupert is looking for a fresh start. So is the Clarion University football program.

They may wind up helping each other.

Rupert, a 2003 Knoch graduate, transferred to Clarion last winter and ended spring practice as the Golden Eagles' No. 1 quarterback.

Now a redshirt sophomore, he spent two seasons at Division I-AADuquesne University, but never played a down for the Dukes.

"Things just didn't work out for me there,"Rupet said. "My knees were sore. I had a little tendinitis — nothing that required surgery, just some rehabilitation that limited what I could do."

Rupert had a stellar high school career at Knoch, throwing for 3,466 yards and 29 touchdowns, and rushing for 857 yards and 19 scores as a four-year starter.

Two seasons of not playing at Duquesne were enough.

"I wasn't enjoying it,"he admitted. "I participated in practice, did all the workouts and stayed in shape. When nothing changed for me last fall, I had to go someplace different."

Rupert looked in only one direction:Clarion.

"I used to live there when I was younger and my grandparents are still there,"he said. "I have a lot of family in the area.

"Clarion recruited me out of high school and I paid a visit there. I gave it a look. I know the area well and I'm comfortable there."

Majoring in business management and with three years of eligibility remaining, all Rupert needs now is to play. But that chance won't come easily.

Also contending for the starting quarterback spot are Ryan Hart, a sophomore and transfer from Slippery Rock University, and true freshmen Tyler Huether (Penn-Trafford) and Gino Rometo (Plum).

Hart is the only one of the quartet with any playing time at the collegiate level. He completed eight of 20 passes for 70 yards in parts of five games with SRUlast season. He is also the career passing yardage leader at Cochranton High School.

"Nobody has the edge right now,"Clarion offensive coordinator Dave Durish said. "We're still splitting the reps in practice. Everybody has a shot.

"The only thing for sure is this job will be decided during training camp."

That suits first-year head coach Jay Foster just fine. Clarion has posted only two winning seasons — 7-4 records in 2000 and 2002 — since reaching the NCAADivision II semifinals in 1996.

"Whoever our quarterback is Sept. 2 at Tiffin (Ohio), he'll be making his first collegiate start,"Foster said. "That person may very well be our quarterback for the next three years.

"I'm not disappointed in any way, shape or form in anything Mark Rupert has done so far. We wanted him to lose a little weight after spring ball and he's done that. He looks very good."

Rupert is listed at 6-foot-3, 235 pounds in Clarion's media guide. He is at 225 pounds now and hopes to drop another 10 or 15 pounds.

"I'm comfortable with where I'm at physically,"Rupert said. "But I know I can get quicker if I lose a few more.

"Believe me, I'm taking nothing for granted. I'm working hard to become the starter. The other quarterbacks are working hard, too. No positions are settled on this team, and everyone's been approaching practice like that. It's been very competitive."

Durish likes Rupert's arm strength and how well he sees the field.

"All of our quarterbacks are skilled in different ways and none is head and shoulders above the others in any one category,"Durish said. "All of these guys are still learning the system.

"Once they get past that learning curve, they'll start reacting on the field instead of thinking. They're still thinking right now, but we'll get them past that point."

Foster is impressed with Rupert's size and strength in the pocket.

"He makes heady decisions when he rolls out. He's a big, strong kid who's not easy to bring down,"Foster said. "He reminds me of (Ben)Roethlisberger that way.

"Mark can take a shot and still deliver the football."

Rupert hopes to be delivering footballs downfield at Clarion for a long time.

"I feel like I'm coming into a good situation,"he said. "I want to become the No. 1 guy and help turn this into a winning team."