SLIPPERY ROCK — With all of its running backs gone and returning quarterback Andrew Koester unavailable this spring, the Slippery Rock University football coaching staff went to work on retooling its roster.

SRU found the needed replacements — and then some.

The Rock announced a 35-player recruiting class Wednesday, including five transfers who may help immediately in 2020.

“We didn't get a kicker or punter to compete with (returnee) Jackson Gildea in camp and we're still looking for another defensive lineman,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “Besides that, we filled every need we needed to fill.

“This is one of the largest recruiting classes we've ever put together. I'm most excited about this class academically. Its average grade point average is well above a 3.0.”

While no Butler County players are among this year's Rock recruiting class, SRU is bringing in Grove City defensive lineman Lance Craig, North Allegheny linebacker Brayden Prekop, Shady Side Academy defensive back Edgar Faulkner IV, Farrell offensive lineman Melvin Hobson and Plum long-snapper Josh George.

Faulkner's father is linebacker coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

George's older brother is a graduating long-snapper at SRU and “Josh has a chance to come in and fill that role right away,” Lutz said.

The coach added that the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Hobson “is a 4.2 student and very athletic. He could make a quick impact up front for us.”

Overall, The Rock is bringing in recruits from nine states: Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, California, Arizona and Virginia.

Coming off a 13-1 season and appearance in the NCAA Division II national semifinals “definitely widened our recruiting base,” Lutz said.

Koester, a North Allegheny product who was SRU's starting quarterback to begin the 2018 season before an injury paved the way for Roland Rivers III's successful two-year stint, has completed his four-year degree. He has a semester of football eligibility remaining and will attend graduate school in the fall.

“We have a 10-semester rule for sports eligibility here, so Andrew can't take part in any of our spring football activities,” Lutz said.

Noah Grover — a Phoenix (Ariz.) product and transfer from North Dakota — is joining The Rock. He played sparingly at North Dakota and has two years of eligibility remaining.

Grover threw for 1,304 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior year in high school.

“We found him in the transfer portal,” Lutz said. “He is a drop-back passer who can make all the throws. He also carries a 3.7 GPA as an engineering major.”

Two high school quarterbacks are among the recruiting class: 6-3 Brayden Long from New Oxford and 6-1 Zaire Hart-Hawkins from West Catholic in Philadelphia.

Long threw for 2,576 yards and 29 touchdowns his senior year in being named all-state in Class 5A. He threw for 6,571 yards and 64 TDs in high school. Hart-Hawkins threw for 2,240 yards and 21 TDs his senior year, 4,607 yards and 43 TDs in his prep career.

“We needed depth at the quarterback position and we found it,” Lutz said.

The Rock may have found a starting running back as well in Evyn Holtz, a 5-9, 190-pound transfer from California and a transfer from Portland State. He has one year of eligibility left.

“That kid is so explosive ... one cut and he's gone,” Lutz said.

Holtz ran for 3,422 yards and 43 touchdowns in high school. Penn Hills graduate Timothy Smith is a running back transfer from Fairmont State. He has three years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

Running back recruits Kenyon Johnson, Chris D'or and Isaiah Taylor all had productive prep careers and “given our running back situation, could all get on the field and contribute early,” Lutz said.

SRU's two other transfers are Jacob Brunson, a 6-3, 285-pound offensive lineman from the University of Dayton and Kiyon Santos, a cornerback from Long Island University.

“Both of those guys can step in and start, plug some holes for us,” Lutz said. “Santos started against us in a playoff game two years ago and covered Henry Litwin. We know what he can do.

“This is the biggest class we've had and this class is incredibly talented on the field. We're excited about what they can bring moving forward.”

Here is a breakdown of the 2020 Slippery Rock University football recruiting class:TransfersJacob Brunson (Dayton) 6-3, 285, OLEvyn Holtz (Portland State) 5-9, 190, RBTimothy Smith (Fairmont State) 5-9, 180, RBKiyon Santos (LIU) 56-10, 170, DBNoah Grover (North Dakota) 6-2, 195, QBQuarterbacksZaire Hart-Hawkins (West Catholic) 6-1, 180Brayden Long (New Oxford) 6-3, 200Running BacksChris D’or (Greenacres, Fla.) 5-10, 175Kenyon Johnson (West Perry) 5-11, 185Isaiah Taylor (Pottsgrove) 5-9, 180Wide ReceiversMichael Beneski (McDowell) 6-3, 185Andrew Miller (Huntingdon) 6-4, 190Logan Ramper (Cumberland Valley), 6-2, 190Tyler Settle (Gainesville, Va.) 6-3, 180Evan Spann (North Penn) 6-1, 185Tight EndKendrick Wesley (Liberty) 6-3, 240Offensive LineJoe Cooper (Bermudian Springs) 6-6, 300Melvin Hobson (Farrell) 6-3, 320Sawyer Morgan (Bishop McDeavitt) 6-2, 280Mitchell Sweeney (Cathedral Prep) 6-1, 270Defensive LineMichael Boyd (Burtsonville, Md.) 6-2, 280Lance Craig (Grove City) 6-2, 270Chris Kaczwara (West Palm Beach, Fla.) 6-2, 255Henzloy McFarlane (Martin Luther King) 6-1, 230Michael Voitus (Poland, Ohio) 6-2, 230Matthew Wilwohl (Sanford, Fla.) 6-1, 220)LinebackersDevyn Clair (Bishop McDeavitt) 6-1, 230Kyle Killiri (Salisbury) 5-11, 200Brayden Prekop (North Allegheny) 6-0, 215Keegan Toner (Cumming, Ga.) 6-0, 200Defensive BacksEdgar Faulkner IV (Shady Side Academy) 5-8, 165Savion Harrison (York), 5-9, 170Za-Kai Lindo (Paramus Catholic) 5-10, 180Joshua Stokes (Huntingdown, Md.) 5-10, 170Long SnapperJosh George (Plum) 6-3, 215