SRU football adds 2 impact transfers
SLIPPERY ROCK — Spring football has a little more flair than usual this year at Slippery Rock University — courtesy of Youngstown State.
A pair of former Penguins — quarterback Dante Nania and linebacker Teven Williams — have transferred to The Rock for their senior seasons and both figure to be impact players this fall.
“Teven wasn't in school last year because of a family issue,” SRU coach George Mihalik said. “He decided he wanted to finish his education and his football career.
“Youngstown State has a new staff in place now and he was looking for a place to start over.”
Williams learned of SRU through Rock tight end Julian Harrell, a transfer from YSU himself.
Williams is also good friends with Nania, who started six games for the Penguins last season before being sidelined by an injury. The coaches went with a younger quarterback for the rest of the season.
“Again, someone looking for a fresh start, and Teven told us about him,” Mihalik said. “Everything just worked out.”
Williams was Youngstown State's leading tackler each of the past three seasons. He recorded 63 tackles as a freshman, 63 as a sophomore and 81 as a senior.
A middle linebacker at YSU, Williams will be an outside linebacker with The Rock. Defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz said Williams will still line up in the box.
“He's about 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, he's quick, fast and hits hard,” Lutz said. “This guy has the ability to be our conference's Defensive Player of the Year. He's that good.“With (Butler graduate) Bobby Vernick in the middle, Williams and Mike Grata on the outside, our linebacking corps and defensive line may be the best we've had since I've been here.”Williams, named his conference's Freshman of the Year at YSU in 2012, is from Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio. Nania is a graduate of Hempfield High School in Greensburg.Nania completed 50 of 87 passes for 784 yards and six touchdowns last season. He threw only one interception and rushed for 103 yards over two years at YSU.“He is a dual threat at quarterback with a very strong arm,” Mihalik said. “He has the mobility and ability to extend plays.“Dante fits very well into our offense.”Williams and Nania both enrolled at SRU in January and are participating in spring drills. The Rock's annual spring game is at 7 p.m. April 24 at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium and is open to the public at no charge.“Both of these guys have come in here with no arrogance, no attitude,” Mihalik said. “They want to help us win a championship. With the work ethic they've been showing, they've been totally accepted by the team.“Their attitude has been as positive as their athletic ability.”Youngstown State finished 7-5 last season. Former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini was hired as head coach during the off-season.SRU is coming off a second successive 9-3 campaign. The Rock won the PSAC championship last fall, has captured three of the last four PSAC West titles and has been to the NCAA Division II playoffs the past two years.“Winning championships makes recruiting a lot easier,” Mihalik said. “Everybody wants to play for a winner. We feel good about what these guys will add to our program.”
