SLIPPERY ROCK — Devin Goda was looking for the big time.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound receiver was being recruited by a number of Division I schools — Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia among them — during his years as a wide receiver at Elizabeth Forward High School.

“My SAT scores were kinda low ... and all of that went away,” Goda said of the big-school recruits.

His talent stuck around. And when Slippery Rock University came calling, Goda had a plan.

“Get my academics in order, play here for a year and go play Division I football,” he said. “That was always my dream.”

Just one problem — he liked it here too much.

“I was having so much fun and fit in so well, I couldn't bring myself to leave,” Goda said. “And I'm happy I didn't.”

Now a senior at The Rock, Goda is preparing to leave SRU as its second most productive receiver of all time, trailing only Arena League legend Greg Hopkins.

With two regular season games remaining, Goda needs only two catches to slip past Ryan McKavish into third place on The Rock's single-season receptions list. He has 59 right now. Hopkins had seasons of 83 and 79.

Goda's 2,061 career receiving yards trail Wade Acker by 142 on SRU's charts. Hopkins had 3,382.

Goda's 158 career catches already rank No. 2 all-time at The Rock. Hopkins had 215.

“I talked with Greg Hopkins last year and he told me it takes a special person to play the (slot) position in this offense at SRU,” Goda said. “You have to be able to do a lot of things.

“I don't mind being second to that guy. Nobody would.”

Goda ran a 4.44 40-yard dash during preseason testing, fastest time on the team. At times, linebackers try covering him as he lines up as the slot-back.

“Devin's big enough to be a linebacker himself,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “And his speed provides matchup problems for every team we play.”

While Goda has been remarkably consistent of late — 44 receptions in the past six games — his window of open space on the field has grown smaller.

“A linebacker is picking me up 5 yards off the line of scrimmage with a safety covering over the top,” Goda said. “That's OK. It opens things up for other guys.

“I can still find a crease in there every now and then.”

Quarterback Cody Endres believes Goda can find a crease virtually any time.

“He doesn't need much,” Endres said. “He knows how to get positioning on the defender and the guy doesn't drop anything.

“We've got plenty of weapons on this team, but he's the go-to guy, no doubt about that.”

Goda has put up huge numbers in his collegiate career despite playing with four quarterbacks in four seasons — Brandon Frohnapple his freshman year, Rocco Colavecchia as a sophomore, Ryan Sabo last year and Endres this year.

With Goda as his “go-to guy,” Endres has become the second quarterback in Rock history to throw for more than 200 yards five times in a season. Chad Vogt (1995) is the other.

“It takes a while to develop a rapport with a new quarterback and I've gone through that period every year,” Goda said. “But Cody and I have developed such a connection with each other.

“Even when there's someone on me, he'll throw the ball my way, figuring I'll beat the guy and make the catch. ... Having a QB show that kind of confidence in you is indescribable and he does it all the time.”

Half on Endres' 18 TD passes have gone to Goda this year, including the game-winner at Edinboro in the final two minutes of a 24-23 game.

“There was single coverage on me. I looked at Cody and he nodded. That's all it took,” Goda said.

Endres is grateful Goda was here when he got here.

“He makes big plays for us time and time again,” Endres said.

Mihalik echoes those sentiments.

“Devin runs precise routes. He can get the first down, he can beat people down the field,” the coach said. “Whatever we need, he delivers.”