CHERRY TWP— Home is where the heart is.

It might also be where Tyler Armagost winds up a starting college quarterback.

The Moniteau senior is headed to Slippery Rock University and will throw himself into The Rock's quarterback mix.

SRU is coming off a 5-6 season and enters spring drills with the position wide open. Last year's starter, junior Brandon Frohnapple, and redshirt freshman Ryan Sabo will compete for the job then.

Incoming freshmen Ryan O'Rourke, a 2,374-yard passer with 33 touchdowns for Avon (Ohio) last year, and Armagost will join the competition during summer drills.

"Expecting to go from a Class AAhigh school quarterback to starting for a Division IIteam in college in one year might be a little much for me,"Armagost said. "But I'm going to give it my best shot and prepare as much as I can."

Armagost said he will observe SRU's spring drills to pick up on the terminology and plays as early as possible.

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Armagost threw for 1,914 yards and 19 touchdowns last year in leading the Warriors to their first Keystone-Shortway Athletic Conference regular season title.

He threw for 5,320 yards and 52 touchdowns in three years, including 24 interceptions. Armagost also rushed for 773 yards and 21 TDs.

"Tyler is a big, tough, strong kid who also has mental toughness,"Moniteau coach Jeff Campbell said. "Add to that his work ethic, preparation, and the fact that's he so coachable ... I won't be surprised at all if he wins the starting job.

"I was hoping he'd go to SRU. We have a good relationship with that school and those coaches are going to love working with him."

Armagost shined as a linebacker at Moniteau as well. He led the Warriors with 110 tackles and added 14 sacks last season.

And that was as a part-time player on defensive.

"Since he was our starting quarterback, Tyler only played defense until we had the game in hand,"Campbell said. "Once we got up by a couple of touchdowns, he came out. He didn't play the second half in a lot of games."

SRUcoach George Mihalik said Armagost might be looked at as a tight end, linebacker or defensive end if things don't work out at quarterback.

"He asked for an opportunity to play quarterback here and you can't argue with his numbers or productivity,"Mihalik said. "He definitely had an outstanding high school career as a quarterback.

"That kid shows a lot of flexibility. We've seen him play quite a bit. If he's not our quarterback, he's not against helping us at another position.

"A lot of high school quarterbacks have gone on to build outstanding collegiate careers at other positions. Penn State's made a living out of that,"Mihalik added.

Armagost hopes to get at least two years to try to make it as a quarterback.

"But if I can get on the field as a freshman and help the team somewhere else, I'll do it," he said.

Armagost also considered Robert Morris, Clarion, Westminster and Mercyhurst before signing with The Rock.

"I love the atmosphere, the coaching staff, winning tradition — and staying close to home,"he said.

The University of Akron was interested in Armagost last fall, but backed off him in November. The lack of competitive games in the KSACmight have hurt him in the eyes of bigger schools.

"As long as you produce and win, at no matter what level, a kid has a chance to do it at another level,"Mihalik said. "We love his mental toughness, the fact that he'll play hurt, he's the son of a coach. ... This kid brings a lot of positives."