SLIPPERY ROCK — There is no need to look for Rocco Colavecchia's name among the PSAC's passing or total offense leaders.

It won't be there.

If you're looking for Colavecchia's name among the list of leaders on the Slippery Rock University football team, the redshirt sophomore quarterback is near the top of the list.

"His teammates are really responding to him," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "They see what he's going through to be on the field and that registers with everybody."

Colavecchia has been playing on a sore ankle that developed into a high ankle sprain. And though he hadn't played quarterback in two years, he has more college experience at the position than anyone else on the roster.

True freshmen Ryan O'Rourke and Moniteau graduate Tyler Armagost are his backups. In a pinch, Rock running back and former North Hills quarterback Ryan Lehmeier could step in.

"If I wasn't leading the offense, Ryan O'Rourke could step in and do a good job," Colavecchia said. "You always have confidence in the depth chart."

Colavecchia has plenty of confidence in himself. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound quarterback has thrown for only 162 yards combined in the past two games — both wins — after throwing for a season-high 200 yards in a 28-24 loss at Edinboro.

For the season. Colavecchia has completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes — 62 of 130 — for 748 yards. He has as many interceptions (five) as touchdown passes.

"He played tonight (Saturday vs. Mercyhurst) at maybe 70 or 80 percent," Mihalik said. "We had him listed as questionable all week, even though he told me he was playing six days earlier.

"Rocco's a tough kid. He brings a lot of intangibles onto the field with him."

One such intangible is audibles at the line of scrimmage. Though he hasn't played quarterback in two years, Colavecchia recognizes defensive formations and tendencies at the line.

His audible resulted in a key 22-yard touchdown run by SayQuan Scott-Mitchell against Millersville. He changed the play late in last Saturday's 17-16 win over Mercyhurst, the switch resulting in a 31-yard touchdown pass to Devin Goda,

"The cornerback was pinching way in and I knew (Goda) could get behind him," Colavecchia said.

"Rocco saw the press coverage and attacked it," Mihalik said.

The Rock's passing game has been inconsistent to date, but Colavecchia insists it's coming.

"We're throwing down the field a lot and I love that," he said. "We've been just a yard or so off on most of those plays.

"It's all about timing. We're all still getting used to each other. Those plays are there and they're going to click."

Colavecchia and his receivers have plenty of time to work on it. Colavecchia has two years of eligibility remaining after this season. Leading receivers Kenny Cottman and Goda are a freshman and sophomore, respectively, while deep threat Jermale Cromerdie is a junior. Another deep threat, Kevin Sanders, is a sophomore.

"We knew we had the young receiving talent. We just weren't sure who the quarterback was going to be," Mihalik said.

The Rock recruited Colavecchia out of Shenango High School, where he led the WPIAL with 2,356 passing yards and set a school record of 3,056 total yards during his senior season of 2006.

The MVP of the North-South All-Star Game, Colavecchia opted for Kent State University as a walk-on quarterback. The Golden Flashes moved him to tight end last year after a redshirt year.

Colavecchia played in four games at tight end last season and didn't catch a pass.

"We got a phone call from him during the offseason," Mihalik said. "Rocco had interest in coming here to test his mettle as a quarterback.

"And we had interest in him. We had no starting quarterback at the time."

They have one now.

"I like the direction this is headed," Mihalik said.