SLIPPERYROCK— Athleticism is the key word in describing the initial wave of Slippery Rock University football recruits.

Six players signed national letters of intent with The Rock Wednesday, including two who are ranked among the top 100 in the nation at their respective positions.

Coming off a 9-2 season, The Rock added two wide receivers, a tight end, linebacker, defensive end and quarterback.

"We're not done by any stretch,"SRUcoach George Mihalik said. "We're looking to bring in another eight players or so over the next two weeks.

"We're happy with this first day. We've addressed some needs. Now we have to get some linemen."

Jeff Thompson, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker from Clairton, was the key figure on the team's No. 1 ranked WPIALClass Adefensive unit.

A two-time all-conference player and his league's defensive MVPin 2007, Thompson also lettered in basketball and baseball.

"ESPNranked him as the 100th best linebacker in the country,"Mihalik said. "He was all set to go to Toledo, but they dropped off him toward the end (of recruiting) and Jeff verbally committed to us two weeks ago.

"If we're low on numbers at linebacker, he could get playing time as a true freshman."

The other SRUrecruit rated among the top 100 at his positionis Steel Valley quarterback Ryan Sabo.

The 6-3, 225-pound Sabo is rated the fifth-best quarterback recruit in Pennsylvania and the 77th best in the nation by Scout.com. He accounted for 17 touchdowns in leading Steel Valley to an undefeated season.

"Steel Valley ran a lot of option the past couple of years, so Sabo didn't throw the ball much," Mihalik said. "But I know he has a strong arm and he's a big, athletic kid."

SRUis graduating quarterback Nate Crookshank, a four-year starter at that position. No true freshman ever has started at quarterback for Mihalik.

"We give every freshman a chance to compete for a position and help us win,"Mihalik said. "How quickly he adapts to our system and to the college game will determine if Ryan has a chance to play right away."

Like Thompson, Sabo also lettered in baseball and football in high school.

SRU's four other recruits thus far are receivers Billy Altman of Sharon and Kenny Cottman of Beaver Falls, defensive end Mitch Blackwell of Central Cambria and tight end Josh Gardner of Hempfield.

Altman scored 23 touchdowns in 2007 and had five interceptions on defense. He holds his school's 300 intermediate hurdles record and is a three-year letterman in basketball.

Cottman had 19 receptions for 479 yards and eight touchdowns for Beaver Falls last year and was a state finalist in the triple jump in 2006.

"These are speed guys and big targets,"Mihalik said. "Altman played running back and receiver in high school, but we're going to try him at receiver.

"Cottman is an outstanding basketball player as well as football."

Another big target is tight end Gardner, who stands 6-4 and weighs 230 pounds. He was voted team MVP at Hempfield and had 32 catches for 340 yards and four TDs.

Blackwell is the latest Rock recruit to come out of Central Cambria, the same school that Crookshank and All-America tackle Mike Butterworth attended.

The 6-2, 220-pound Blackwell had 17 sacks last year and had 43 in his career. He was the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat's Defensive Player of the Year.

"We've had success recruiting in that area,"Mihalik said of Central Cambria. "Players have come to us from there and had great careers. That word gets around.

"Besides, that's my hometown. It's been good to us."

Here are the six players who signed letters of intent Wednesday to play football at Slippery Rock University:<b>Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School</b>Billy Altman WR 6-1 180 SharonKenny Cottman WR 6-2 205 Beaver FallsJosh Gardner TE 6-4 230 HempfieldJeff Thompson LB 6-2 210 ClairtonMitch Blackwell DE 6-2 220 Central CambriaRyan Sabo QB 6-3 225 Steel Valley