SLIPPERY ROCK— John Krauland knows all about playing the waiting game.

A two-way all-conference lineman at Knoch, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound left tackle headed to Slippery Rock University with visions of a stellar collegiate career dancing in his head.

"I ran into trouble academically and took two years off,"Krauland said. "I wasn't ready for everything. I had to figure out what I wanted to do."

"He had to find himself a little bit,"SRU coach George Mihalik said. "It was disappointing to us at the time because he was one of our prime recruits that year. We're just happy he decided to come back."

A safety and environmental management major, ultimately, Krauland wanted to play football.

"That's why I came back,"he said.

After two years of not playing, Krauland alternated quarters at guard with Grant Hrabovsky in 2006, then saw action in all 11 games last year as Hrabovsky's backup at right guard.

"From a physical standpoint, the time off didn't hurt him,"Mihalik said of Krauland. "From a depth chart standpoint ... He came back and was stuck behind (Mike)Butterworth."

The 6-7, 300-pound Butterworth graduated last year as an all-conference player and signed a free-agent contract with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

"John's time as a backup wasn't wasted,"Mihalik insisted. "He's an intelligent football player. He soaked up information."

"He (Butterworth) paid attention to detail,"Krauland said. "No matter how good he was, he kept wanting to get better. I have that same desire."

Finally, as a red-shirted senior, Krauland has cracked The Rock's starting lineup — as Butterworth's replacement at left tackle.

He's playing on an offensive line that features only two returning starters — Hrabovsky at left guard and Seneca Valley graduate Brandon Fusco at center — blocking for a running game that returns backs Corey Manfull, Ryan Lehmeier and Demarcus Cleckley.

That trio rushed for 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns last year.

"The expectations are there,"Krauland said. "As an offense, we expect to rush for 200 yards a game. What's good about blocking for backs like we've got, even if you miss a block, they're so good at what they do that they gain yardage anyway.

"They can make us look good."

Mihalik said Krauland's performance will go a long way in determining if The Rock will be good.

"John's going to be an important part of our team," the coach said. "No. 1, he's a senior and we count on leadership from our seniors. No. 2, he's part of a new line that is going to have to come together.

"His biggest asset is his athleticism as an offensive lineman. John has good feet and he's quick. He's not thick and heavy like Butterworth, but what he may be lacking in mass and weight, he makes up for in quickness and agility."

SRUoffensive line coach Joe Walton isn't expecting Krauland to fill Butterworth's shoes alone.

"John just has to be John and do what he's capable of,"Walton said. "All three seniors we lost from last year were good. Our line will have a different look this year, but we still want to keep it rolling.

"It's not like he's stepping in as a raw rookie. John's had an appreciable amount of playing time the past couple of years. No doubt, there are big shoes to fill."

This year's offensive line isn't as big as last season's.

"We have to step up and mesh together as a new unit,"Krauland said. "Last year's line was stronger, but we're quicker.

"It's a different style, but we can be as good. We just have to go out and prove it."