Who’s committed to Slippery Rock football: SRU signs 49 to 2026 class in winter signing period
After having a six-season streak of reaching the NCAA Division II football playoffs snapped this past campaign, Slippery Rock University head coach Shawn Lutz has been on the road this offseason, trying to retool and get back on the big stage.
Lutz and The Rock announced the 2026 recruiting class Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, during the winter signing period. SRU is bringing in 49 athletes. Of those, 39 are high school recruits.
“In the crazy transfer portal era, it feels like high school players are being left out by a lot of programs,” Lutz said in a news release. “We know how important it is to develop talent in our program, and we think signing 39 high school guys shows that. We also know we have to balance that with some portal guys and we are really happy with the mid-year guys we added.”
Seneca Valley linebacker/edge Cayden Parker is heading a short trip north up Interstate 79, the lone recruit from Butler County.
There are 11 wide receivers in this recruiting class and 10 defensive backs. Notably, North Catholic standout receiver Preston Simko, who previously played for the Butler Golden Tornado, had verbally committed to SRU in January but recently decommitted and is now joining Division I Duquesne.
Here’s the list of the players who committed through the transfer portal and from high schools, as well as some information about each of them.
Eckert, an All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference honorable mention at right tackle last season, is a sophomore transfer. He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 245 pounds.
Lutz said Carey was “the top defensive end on our board last year coming out of high school.” Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds, Carey, a North Hills graduate, is a redshirt freshman transfer.
Bousum, who stands 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds, is a sophomore transfer.
Berarducci, a junior who stands 5-foot-9 and weighs 190 pounds, rushed for 1,150 yards in 18 games for the Division III Gators. He was an All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference honorable mention in 2025.
Goode, a two-time all-state receiver, also had an offer from Edinboro.
Jones was a two-time all-region honoree for the Steelers. He had 24 receptions for 523 yards and five touchdowns as a senior.
Smithson was a two-time all-conference honoree. He stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 195 pounds.
Gindlesperger announced his commitment via X on Feb. 3.
Gindlesperger also had offers from California (Pa.), Charleston, Defiance, Fairmont State, Frostburg State, Gannon, Indiana (Pa.), Lock Haven, UMary, West Liberty and West Virginia State.
Johnson announced his commitment via X on Jan. 31.
Johnson, a first-team all-state honoree, was previously committed to Nebraska. He had 2,305 yards and 35 touchdowns on 217 carries as a senior.
Ellison announced his commitment via X on Jan. 28.
Ellison also had an offer from Western New England and visited Hobart. According to his X account, he had 531 all-purpose yards and 83 tackles as a senior.
Stricklin announced his commitment via X on Jan. 21.
Stricklin, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 250 pounds, also had offers from Allegheny, Gannon and Westminster.
Hindman announced his commitment via X on Jan. 25.
Hindman, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 250 pounds, also had an offer from Clarion.
Clee announced his commitment via X on Jan. 26.
According to Clee’s X account, he stands 6 feet and weighs 200 pounds.
Szydlik announced his commitment via X on Jan. 26.
Szydlik, an all-state performer, also had offers from Albany, California (Pa.), Kutztown, Shippensburg, Stonehill, West Chester and a preferred walk-on opportunity at Towson.
Brown announced his commitment via X on Jan. 25.
Brown also had offers from Gannon, Hampden-Sydney and Lebanon Valley College.
According to Brown’s X account, he allowed 140 receiving yards and had six pass breakups and two interceptions as a senior.
Knox announced his commitment via X on Jan. 23.
Knox, a first-team all-conference guard, also had offers from California (Pa.) and Clarion.
Hanzely announced his commitment via X on Jan. 23.
Hanzely, a first-team all-state PIAA Class 5A honoree, also had offers from California (Pa.), Clarion and West Liberty, and visited James Madison and Robert Morris.
As a senior, Hanzely recorded 80 receptions for 1,786 yards and 22 touchdowns for the Beavers. He had 68 total tackles and three interceptions on the other side of the ball.
Boanes announced his commitment via X on Jan. 23.
According to his X account, Boanes stands 6 feet, weighs 250 pounds and totaled 67 tackles and 4.5 sacks as a senior.
Ruffin announced his commitment via X on Jan. 22.
Ruffin, who had 24 grabs for 448 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior, also had offers from California (Pa.), Fairmont State, Gannon and Walsh.
Zaledonis announced his commitment via X on Jan. 22.
Zaledonis, a four-year starter for the Patriots and conference lineman of the year as a senior, also had offers from Bloomsburg, Gannon, Lackawanna, Muhlenberg, Seton Hill and Shippensburg.
Geho announced his commitment via X on Jan. 21.
Geho, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound second-team all-district selection, also had offers from Albany, Maine, Walsh, Western Kentucky and a preferred walk-on opportunity from Akron.
Maddox announced his commitment via X on Jan. 19.
Maddox, who stands 6-2 and weighs 175 pounds, had 49 receptions for 1,000 yards and five touchdowns as a senior for the Titans. He also totaled 65 tackles, a forced fumble and three interceptions on the defensive side of the ball.
Maddox also had an offer from Mercyhurst.
Maloney announced his commitment via X on Jan. 19.
Maloney, a 2025 all-state honorable mention, also had offers from Army, Butler, Lake Erie and Navy. He visited Central Michigan and Duquesne, as well.
Ruffin announced his commitment via X on Jan. 19.
Ruffin, a second-team all-district honoree as a senior, also had offers from Clarion, Lake Erie and a preferred walk-on opportunity from Akron. He visited Ashland, Edinboro and Youngstown State, as well.
Scales announced his commitment via X on Jan. 19.
Scales, a 5-9, 180-pound safety/nickelback was a Division IV All-Ohio first-teamer with the Tarblooders as a senior. He also had offers from Akron, Central State, Clarion, Fairmont State and Ohio Dominican.
Lutz announced his commitment via X on Jan. 18.
Lutz, a first-team All-Big 56 selection, led North Hills with 405 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches as a senior. He also racked up a team-high 124 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.
Lutz had an offer from Gannon and a preferred walk-on opportunity with Kent State.
Johnson announced his commitment via X on Jan. 18.
Fairmont State also offered Johnson.
Longmire announced his commitment via X on Jan. 17.
Longmire also had offers from Central State, Mount Union and West Liberty.
Wooding announced his commitment via X on Jan. 17.
Wooding, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound wideout, had 25 receptions for 521 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bears as a senior. He had 46 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.
Wooding had another offer from Akron.
Brunken, an all-conference offensive tackle, announced his commitment via X on Jan. 16.
Brunken, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 290 pounds, also had offers from Lebanon Valley, Mercyhurst, Seton Hill and Wagner.
Clinton announced his commitment via X on Jan. 16.
Clinton, a 6-1, 225-pound tailback/linebacker, was an all-state first-teamer as a senior. During the same season, he rushed for 1,575 yards and 20 touchdowns on 186 carries.
Clinton also had an offer from Mercyhurst.
Dennison announced his commitment via X on Jan. 16.
Dennison, an all-conference first-teamer as a senior, also had offers from Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon and West Liberty.
Gerovac announced his commitment via X on Jan. 16.
Gerovac, a 6-3, 230-pound big man, was a two-time first-team all-conference honoree. He also had offers from California (Pa.), Clarion, Cumberlands, Edinboro, Gannon, Seton Hill and a preferred walk-on opportunity with Mercyhurst.
Wright announced his commitment via X on Jan. 16.
Wright also had offers from California (Pa.), Fairmont State and Indiana (Pa.). He rushed for 457 yards and six touchdowns on 67 carries as senior with the Tigers. He totaled 63 tackles as a loss.
Young announced his commitment via X on Jan. 15.
Young, a 5-11, 170-pound athlete, also had offers from McPherson College and Ottawa
Thompson announced his commitment via X on Jan. 14.
Thompson, a first-team all-state passer, also had offers from Gettysburg and McPherson College. Thompson passed for 2,392 yards, 35 touchdowns and six interceptions as a senior.
Parker announced his commitment via X on Jan. 13.
Parker, a 6-3, 230-pound three-time all-conference selection, also had offers from Bryant, Buffalo, Cornell, James Madison and New Hampshire, along with preferred walk-on opportunities with Pitt and Vanderbilt.
Perryman, a junior transfer, announced his commitment via X on Jan. 10.
Perryman, who attended McKeesport High School (Pa.) had 33 receptions for 255 yards and a touchdown with the Red Flash. He also carried the ball 40 times for 235 yards and a touchdown.
Lawson announced his commitment via X on Jan. 9.
Lawson, a 5-9, 175-pound athlete, was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior. He led the Warriors with 591 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 37 grabs.
Halajcio announced his commitment via X on Jan. 7.
Halajcio, a first-team all-conference tailback as a senior, also had offers from Clarion, John Carroll, Mercyhurst, Robert Morris and Wheeling. He visited Youngstown State, as well.
Halajcio rushed for 1,238 yards and 14 touchdowns on 214 totes as a senior with the Spartans.
Macek announced his commitment via X on Jan. 7.
Macek also had offers from Ashland, Edinboro and Ottawa.
Lemmon announced his commitment via X on Jan. 6.
Lemmon, a first-team all-conference wideout as a senior, also had an offer from Edinboro. He racked up 460 yards and nine touchdowns on 39 catches for the Red Hurricane last season.
Davis announced his commitment via X on Jan. 5.
Davis, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound big man, also had an offer from Edinboro. He had 11 tackles for loss as a senior.
Stanford announced his commitment via X on Jan. 5.
Stanford, a 6-1, 175-pound athlete, had offers from Lincoln, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Oberlin, Walsh and Washington & Jefferson.
Suah, a junior transfer, announced his commitment via X on Jan. 3.
Suah had 38 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups last season.
Campoli announced his commitment via X on Jan. 1.
Campoli, a two-time all-conference wideout, stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 180 pounds. He also had offers from Gannon, Hampden-Sydney, Washington & Jefferson and Waynesburg.
Cornick announced his commitment via X on Dec. 31.
Cornick, a 6-foot, 185-pound coverman, had 45 total tackles and an interception for Wilkes last season.
Pfeuffer, a redshirt freshman transfer, announced his commitment via X on Dec. 20.
Pfeuffer, who played his high school ball at Bethel Park (Pa.), played in two games as a freshman at Frostburg State, going 17 for 42 for 146 yards and two interceptions.
Richmond, a junior transfer, announced his commitment via X on Dec. 13.
Richmond, who stands 6-1 and weighs 200 pounds, was a two-time All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference honoree at Waynesburg.
Over three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, he piled up 1,010 yards and six touchdowns on 61 grabs.
