SLIPPERY ROCK — Plenty of college football players transfer down in terms of divisions.

But transferring up?

Slippery Rock University senior Marcus Johnson has done the latter — and quite successfully, thank you.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound wide receiver became SRU's all-purpose yardage record holder for a single-season last week at Seton Hill. And that was on a day when he had three touchdowns — including a 92-yard kickoff return — called back by penalties.

Johnson has 1,894 all-purpose yards. Slippery Rock High graduate Josh Kniess set the previous mark of 1,839 in 2005. Johnson needs 106 yards this weekend at Kutztown to reach the 2,000-yard mark.

He needs one more touchdown to tie Grerg Hopkins' SRU career mark of 28 — a record that has stood since 1994.

Not bad for a guy who began his collegiate career at Thiel.

“I was getting Division I looks my senior year in high school (at University Prep),” Johnson said. “But my grades weren't where they needed to be.

“I had to go somewhere else and take care of that.”

He wound up at Thiel, where he caught 46 passes for 827 yards and eight touchdowns for the Tomcats. He transferred to The Rock after his freshman year.

“Slippery Rock was one of the schools that was recruiting me in high school,” Johnson said. “I felt like I could go there and have success.”

And how.

Johnson saw limited action as a sophomore at SRU, catching only seven passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Last year, he caught 54 passes for 898 yards and 13 scores.

He is dwarfing those numbers this year, pulling in 66 balls for 1,115 yards and 13 TDs with one regular season game — and perhaps playoffs — still to come.

“Marcus has worked so hard since he's been here,” SRU offensive coordinator Justin Roper said. “He is a great route runner and has great hands.

“He's a guy we're going to dearly miss.”

The next four players on The Rock's single-season all-purpose yardage list — Kniess, Rick Porter, Shamar Greene and LaMonte Coleman — were all running backs.

The next closest receiver on the list is John Schademan with 1,569 yards in 2013.

“You can dictate how many touches a running back will get,” Roper said. “You can't do that with a receiver.”

Of course, special teams play has helped Johnson's cause. He has 530 yards and two TDs returning kickoffs this year, 219 yards and one TD returning punts.

“It's rare that a receiver holds any all-purpose yardage record,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “It shows how explosive he is. Anytime the ball is in his hands, he can put on a show.”

So, for that matter, can senior pass receiving mate Milly Raye, who has 68 catches for 905 yards and eight scores — and ranks 10th all-time in single-season all-purpose yardage at The Rock with 1,403.

“We help each other,” Johnson said of Raye, who has appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter a number of times this season. “Without Milly on the field, my numbers wouldn't be close to where they are.

“Tanner Garry has a lot to do with that, too. He's an incredible passer. We kick it together all the time, on and off the field. I love the guy.”

That feeling is mutual.

“I get yelled at sometimes for standing around watching Marcus after he catches the ball,” Garry said, smiling. “You never know when he's going to break one.”

Johnson is hoping his break-out years at The Rock enable him to break into the NFL.

“That's my ultimate goal. It has been all my life,” Johnson said. “All I want is a chance. I can't ask for anything more.”

Lutz is confident that chance is coming.

“I've talked to (NFL) scouts who have watched him play,” the coach said. “They love his route running, his athleticism and speed, the way he'll go up and come down with the ball ... not to mention the threat he brings on special teams.

“Marcus Johnson will wind up in somebody's camp next year. That's almost a guarantee.”