SLIPPERY ROCK — Shawn Lutz refers to it as a “serious mistake.”

That miscue — the lack of recruiting of then Butler High School senior Bob Vernick — has turned into a big-time benefit for the Slippery Rock University football team.

“That kid wasn't recruited by anybody else,” first-year SRU head coach Lutz recalled. “Even when people look at his body of work with us, he's still underrated.

“Everyone tends to believe Bob Vernick has over-achieved here, that he's done what he's done purely by working hard. That work ethic is there, certainly, but so is a lot of athleticism.

“Bobby is fast enough to cover would-be receivers, he has tremendous lateral movement and he's a strong, physical kid,” Lutz added.

SRU's 6-foot-1, 230-pound middle linebacker plans to add something else to his repertoire.

He plans to get louder.

“Yeah, I'm gonna be more vocal,” Vernick said. “This is my senior year and I need to be a leader.

“No way are we going to let down as a defense. I won't let it happen.”

Vernick is entering his third year as a starter for The Rock after appearing in 11 games his freshman year. He had 67 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore.

Last year, Vernick was second on the team and sixth in the PSAC with 90 tackles. His 14.5 tackles for loss were ninth in the conference. He added five quarterback sacks, an interception and fumble recovery as well.

“Bobby was the MVP of our defense last year,” said Lutz, who served as SRU's defensive coordinator. “Marcuis Martin had all those sacks (15.5) and Teven Williams led us in tackles, but Bobby's the guy who calls our defensive signals.

“He gets everybody in place to make those plays. He is very vital to everything we do on that side of the ball.”

Vernick was a first team All-PSAC West performer last season and was second team all-region. This year, he wants to become an All-American.

“I was a step away from that last year,” Vernick said. “It's my biggest individual goal this year — that and being a playmaker. I want to make plays.

“Being a linebacker behind our defensive front ... Those guys make it a lot easier for us.”

While The Rock returns three starters along the defensive line and three others in the secondary, Vernick is the only returning starter at linebacker.

“It's all about being physical in the middle of the field,” he said. “We want to make an impact. Stuff as many plays as we can.”

Besides excelling on the field, Vernick is doing fine in the classroom. He is carrying a 3.5 grade point average as an exercise science major and has hopes of becoming a physician's assistant.

“The course load he takes here isn't easy,” Lutz said. “But Bobby's an intelligent kid and that translates on to the football field. He's an extremely smart player, which is why he directs our defense out there.

“How he performs this year is so critical to us. We need a huge year out of him.”

And Vernick is prepared to deliver.

He's already been a part of three straight PSAC West championships and back-to-back state championship teams.

“The national championship is the target. That would be the icing on the cake,” Vernick said. “This is my last year of playing football. I want it to be my best.”