Knoch linebacker Brady McKee (10) was looking for a college to play and continue his education in the fall. Finally, the senior landed at Clarion University and may be on the field sooner rather than later.

JEFFERSON TWP — Brady McKee was just looking for a place to play.

Now he may be playing sooner than he expected.

Knoch's senior outside linebacker is continuing his academic and football career at Clarion University.

McKee signed his letter of intent in February and has the opportunity to fill a void.

The Golden Eagles return only four linebackers from last season. Just one of those — Kareem Hamden with 43 — had more than 18 tackles last year.

“The coaches told me I've got a good chance of getting on the field next year, certainly by the following year,” McKee said. “That's my goal. I want to contribute right away.”

McKee had 25 tackles and recovered a fumble as an outside linebacker for Knoch last fall. One of his strongest attributes was run support.

Clarion plays a 4-2-5 defensive scheme with both linebackers in the middle of the field.

“It's going to be an adjustment,” McKee admitted to moving inside. “One of my strengths is attacking the line of scrimmage, moving forward and stopping the run.

“The PSAC has a lot of highly skilled athletes. Teams like Slippery Rock and Indiana run spreads. I'm going to have to adjust to being involved in more pass coverage.

“A lot of the games I played in high school, it was 11 vs. 11, which team was gonna run the ball better. Now I have to get used to a lot of passing,” McKee added.

Knoch coach Brandon Mowry said Brady “is going to play a lot in the box” while describing his role in Clarion's defensive alignment.

“That program is a good fit for him,” Mowry said. “Brady is a sizable, physical linebacker. I think he can make an impact up there.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound McKee considered IUP, SRU and Wheeling Jesuit before deciding on Clarion. An overnight visit to the campus sold him on the program.

He plans to major in business management.

“I talked to a couple of guys I know on the team, (quarterback) Seth Cohen of Highlands and (lineman) Matt Charlton from Freeport,” McKee said. “They told me some good things about the program.

“Clarion's not a big Division II school and you get a lot of one-on-one time with the coaches and in academics you might not get somewhere else.”

East Brady graduate Chris Weibel is Clarion's head coach. The Golden Eagles are coming off four successive losing seasons — 3-8 last year — after going 7-4 in 2015.

McKee's goals begin with academics.

“Get my degree, of course,” he said. “That's No. 1. I want to play as much I can and help the team win as many games as I can.

“I want to become a first team All-PSAC player for as many years as I can. I want to make the most of this.”