SLIPPERY ROCK — Slippery Rock University football coach Shawn Lutz referred to him as “a good secret in our own backyard.”

That secret is coming to The Rock.

Karns City senior Nathan Waltman, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end-linebacker, is among the 15-member 2021 SRU football recruiting class announced Wednesday.

“We are so excited to be getting him,” Lutz said. “No. 1, he's a great student and a great kid. He already has the frame to play here and he's going to get bigger. Nathan is a physical specimen.

“Coming from a small school, we believe people just didn't know about him. I believe he could have gone to a bigger school. He could become a real impact player for us.”

Waltman was recruited as a tight end, though he could play other positions. He also considered Edinboro, Clarion and Duquesne before deciding on SRU.

“One of the best Division II programs in the country that's 35 minutes away ... how can I not go there?,” Waltman said.

“As soon as I made my visit up there, I knew that was the place for me.”

He wasn't alone in that regard.

“Every potential recruit we brought on campus for a visit, we got every one of them,” Lutz said. “This is a small class in numbers, but it's big on quality.”

Waltman carries a 4.16 grade point average at Karns City. He plans to major in accounting.

“All I want to do is realize my full potential. I think that will happen at Slippery Rock,” Waltman said.

The average GPA of this recruiting class is 3.3.

The class includes three transfers: receiver Izzy Adeoti from North Dakota, running back Hunter Merritt from Mercyhurst and defensive lineman D.J. Adediwura from Fairmont State.

“All three of those guys give us quality depth at their positions. They will definitely contribute,” Lutz said.

Three quarterbacks are coming on board. Two of them — Jackson Bouslough from Hershey and Zak Artley from Blairsville — are sons of former Rock players. Bouslough threw for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns in six games last season.

The other quarterback is Hickory's Michael Henwood, who threw for 2,130 yards, ran for 943 and accounted for 34 touchdowns in leading the Hornets to a regional championship.

“He turned down Division 1 offers to come play for us,” Lutz said. “He could be an outside receiver with his versatility. We could end up using him all over the field on both sides of the ball.”

Eli Podgorski, a 6-3. 280-pound offensive lineman, is the younger brother of former Rock lineman Ryan Podgorski and was a finalist for the Bill Fralic Award for WPIAL Lineman of the Year.

Lutz described running back Xander McClure, a Maryland product, as “one of the best skill position players we have signed out of high school in a long time. He's a big-time playmaker and home run threat with the ball in his hands.”

Lutz described defensive back Ali Abdul-Hakim, from Washington, D.C., as the steal of the class.

“He is a lockdown corner with great feet,” the coach said.

Jemel Carter, a wide receiver from New Jersey, “might be the fastest player on the team. He could play slot, running back, he's just lightning-fast.”

Carter will run track at SRU as well.

<b>Transfers</b>Izzy Adeoti, wide receiver, University of North DakotaHunter Merritt, defensibve back, Mercyhurst UniversityD.J. Adediwura, def. lineman, Fairmont State<b>High School</b>Mehki Twillie, def. lineman, Cathedral PrepZak Artley, quarterback, BlsirsvilleReis Watkins, linebacker, ShenangoBasilio Jimenez, wide receiver, HempfieldNathan Waltman, tight end, Karns CityEli Podgorski, off. lineman, South ParkAli Abdul-Hakim, defensive back, Friendship Collegistev Academy, Washington, D.C.Michael Henwood, quarterback, HickoryJemel Carter, wide receiver, Paramus Catholic, New JerseyXander McClure, running back, Lingamore, New Market, MarylandJackson Bouslough, quarterback, HersheyConnor Chrisman, wide receiver, Norwin