SLIPPERY ROCK — Familiarity can be a good thing — and a bad one.

The good: Slippery Rock University is returning nine starters on both sides of the ball this season.

The bad: The Rock is saddled with the second-toughest schedule among the 49 NCAA Division II Super Region One teams for the second straight year.

“We accept that and we have to make the best of it,” 26th-year head coach George Mihalik said. “Hopefully, if we put ourselves in position, that schedule will benefit us when it comes time for playoff selections.”

Rock opponents were a combined 73-53 last season. SRU is facing the past five PSAC championship teams and the past four PSAC East titleists this season. Its four non-conference opponents were 33-14 a year ago.

“We know nothing is going to be handed to us,” SRU senior cornerback Anthony Saunders said. “We’ll have to earn everything we get.”

The Rock is coming off a 6-5 season — its fourth straight winning campaign — and has 17 seniors and 39 returning lettermen — including nine three-year letterwinners — on the roster.

“I like the fact we have 17 seniors,” Mihalik said. “When you have a lot of seniors, it usually means a successful season.”

Mihalik has the luxury of having two starting quarterbacks. Senior Nigel Barksdale threw for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns, rushed for 507 and seven scores while starting only five games a year ago. He is coming off major knee surgery from last November.

Junior Jared Buck started six games and threw for 917 yards and seven TDs while rushing for 242 yards and six scores himself.

“We can win with either guy,” Mihalik said. “Trying to project Nigel’s status for early in the season would be only guessing, but he may miss the first few weeks.”

SRU averaged 35 points per game in 2012, its first year with the no-huddle, up-tempo attack under first-year offensive coordinator Phil Longo.

The team features depth at running back with holdovers Jimmy Zubik and Brett Crenshaw along with lineup newcomers Teddy Blakeman and Shamar Greene.

At receiver, The Rock brings back five players with at least 15 catches a year ago: LaQuinn Stephens-Howling (37 for 464 yards), Jaimire Dutrieuille (28-325), John Schademan (21-410), Ken Amos (32-580) and Andrew Bridgeforth (15-179). Add to that mix Julian Harrell, a transfer from Youngstown State.

“We’re extremely deep at the skilled positions and our offense wants to shuttle guys in and out, keep defenses on their heels,” Mihalik said.

Four starting offensive linemen return in tackles Joe LoSchiavo and Cory Tucker, guards Kirk Nypaver and Bill Whitaker. Seneca Valley graduate Dean Ketterer will have a chance to land the starting center spot.

“It comes down to whether Dean can adjust to the physicality of college ball as opposed to high school,” Mihalik said. “He has the talent. Our starting tackles were freshmen last year, so that season of experience will make a world of difference for them.”

“Defensively, The Rock allowed an uncharacteristic 31 points per game last year.

“We weren’t happy with that at all,” senior nose guard Tony Papley said. “Our theme on defense here is to be relentless and we have to get back to that.

“We play six teams that run spread offenses, so going against ours in practice every day will definitely help us get ready.”

Saunders said facing spread offenses means “one-on-one coverage all day and I like that.”

Papley and Derek Walker provide interior strength up front. Three starting linebackers return in Quindell Dean, Gary Allen and Bob Westerlund.

“We had the No. 1 ranked defense in the nation for a few weeks in 2011,” Mihalik noted. “Then we graduated four-year starters in Brandon Watters and Jayson Nixon at safety and replaced them with two guys who never played a college game before.

“We had to replace a lot of experience on defense last year. Now we have that experience and these guys are used to the pace of the up-tempo game more.”

Dutrieulle is back as a dangerous return man on special teams and fourth-year punter James McCombie is one of the best in all of Division II. Mike Wainauskis has the inside track at place-kicker.

SRU is picked third in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll.

“That’s all done on paper. This thing will be decided on the field and we’re anxious to get to it,” Mihalik said.