BUTLER TWP — Two years ago, Rob Kunst wasn’t even playing football.

Then he listened to his buddies.

Now the Butler senior is headed to Grove City College, where he will join a crop of inexperienced tight ends, to continue his academic and football career.

“Grove City had shown interest in him,” Butler coach Rob Densmore said. “Once they saw his tapes, they came after him hard.”

Primarily a boys volleyball player throughout his prep career, Kunst had not played football since fifth grade. Going into his junior year, his friends talked him into giving the gridiron a try.

“The thought of putting on that jersey and joining them on Friday night ... I wanted to do it,” Kunst said.

One problem.

His parents didn’t want him to do it.

“They were dead-set against me playing,” Kunst said. “On July 1, I snuck out of the house to go to a football workout.

“When my parents found out about it, my dad said that if I wanted to play badly enough that I would sneak out, then they should let me play.”

Kunst is carrying a 4.3 grade point at Butler and plans to major in business management.

He stands only 6-foot-0 and weighs 200 pounds — small for a tight end, even at the Division III level.

But Grove City is coming off an 0-10 season and does not return a tight end who caught a pass last year.

“I know it may be a longshot, but I’m going to work hard to get on the field my freshman year and contribute in some way,” Kunst said. “I’m excited now about hitting the weight room and getting bigger and stronger.”

Once volleyball season ends this spring, Kunst said he will be in the weight room daily prepping for football. He is a middle hitter on the Golden Tornado volleyball team.

But he never considered volleyball as a collegiate sport.

“I’m probably the smallest middle hitter in the WPIAL,” Kunst said. “I’m just too short to play volleyball in college.”

Kunst was shuffled around from wide receiver-safety to fullback-linebacker his junior year at Butler. He didn’t play tight end until the final two games of the regular season that year, against Fox Chapel and Central Catholic.

The Tornado’s starting tight end as a senior, Kunst led Butler’s receiving corps with seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown.

“We didn’t throw the ball much, but Rob produced when we did,” Densmore said. “His work ethic has earned him this opportunity.

“His blocking skills are very raw. He hasn’t been playing football very long. But the (Grove City) coaches will work with him and he’ll develop into a very positive player there. That program is the perfect fit for him.”

Kunst believes he is a step ahead of the game through working with Butler line coach Bill McElroy last season.

“Coach McElroy is an outstanding line coach. I learned a ton from him,” Kunst said. “I feel like I’m ready for the next step.”

Kunst is the first player from the 2014 Butler football team to move on to college ball.