SLIPPERY ROCK — When high school football practices begin Monday, there will be a new face on the practice field at Slippery Rock: Zach Ejzak.

Yes, the Zach Ejzak who has been a two-year starter on the Rockets basketball team. Yes, the Zach Ejzak who has never played football in high school.

"I figured I had one more year," Ejzak said. "I regretted not playing the last few years. I figured this was my last chance."

Ejzak, a 6-foot-1 senior, will be a welcome addition for Slippery Rock, which had trouble at the beginning of the 2006 season adjusting to a new league and a new slate of opponents in Class AAA.

Slippery Rock rallied from an 0-5 start to finish 3-7 last season.

The Rockets have a young offensive nucleus returning, led by junior quarterback Jonathan Powell, who enjoyed a breakthrough second half in 2006.

Ejzak averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds last winter while playing point guard — not his natural position — for Slippery Rock.

He also was a 78-percent free throw shooter.

His football skills are raw, but he will give the Rockets some athleticism at the wide receiver position.

He showed off his ability during the first passing camp of the summer when he hauled in a touchdown strike on his first play.

"He is very athletic," said Slippery Rock coach Clyde Conti. "I asked him, 'Why the heck didn't you play before?'"

Ejzak didn't play before because he focused solely on basketball.

SlipperyRock boys basketball coach Sean Strickland said he has been encouraging Ejzak to play football for several years.

Strickland did warn him about the injury factor.

"I asked him how he would feel if he got hurt during football and couldn't play basketball during his senior year," Strickland said. "He said he would regret it more not giving football a try."

So, Ejzak will suit up for football practice during the two-a-days in early camp, then return home to practice his basketball skills.

It's a regime Ejzak said is necessary.

"It's going to be a lot of extra work," he said. "But it's going to be a lot of fun, too."