Stazer setting lofty goals at SRU
SLIPPERY ROCK — Nick Stazer isn’t shy about mapping out his plans for the 2022 Slippery Rock University football season.
“First and foremost, I want us to win the national championship,” the Butler graduate and SRU junior right guard said. “For myself, I’d like to become an All-American, become the best lineman in Division II ... any trophy that’s out there for a Division II lineman to win, I want to win it.”
Determined words for a guy who did not play football until his senior year at Butler and lost his starting job along SRU’s offensive line midway through the 2021 season.
But offensive line coach and associate head coach Chris Conrad loves it.
“That’s where his mind-set is right now and we’re counting on him,” Conrad said of Stazer. “We’ve got some linemen coming back, but not a lot of starters. We need Nick to nail down a starting position. We want him to be one of our anchors.
“The guy is strong as an ox. With Nick, it’s about technique. He hasn’t played a whole lot of football yet. He needs to learn how to use his hands against a defender. That’s where his strength will come in. Once he gets that down — and he will — he’ll be a tremendous asset for us.”
Stazer stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. After his single year of high school football, he walked on at Pitt and did not see any action there. He transferred to The Rock, sat out the lost COVID season of 2020 with everybody else, then earned a starting position coming out of summer camp last year.
He eventually lost that spot to fellow junior Yuriy Hryckowian during the 2021 campaign.
“I learned how to be a better teammate last year,” Stazer said. “Yuriy is one of my best friends. We competed for playing time and we stayed best friends. He rooted for me when I was in there, I rooted for him when he was in there.
“We support each other. This whole team is that way. Now Yuriy and I are both looking to start and help our line come together with a bunch of new faces.”
Colton Rossi, SRU’s other starting guard and a team captain, is the only offensive lineman returning who started every game for The Rock last season. Anthony Rebar and Sawyer Morgan are returning linemen who saw some time on the field a year ago.
The rest of the line will consist of newcomers.
“We’re working with 18 linemen right now,” Conrad said. “A couple of those guys may become redshirts, we’ll see how it plays out. Ideally, I’d love to have 14 to 16 guys ready to play. The more we can spell guys and stay fresh, the better our line will be.
“Nick is a competitor. After losing his starting job, he did not quit. He worked harder. He’s a leader in the weight room who could become a leader on the field.”
“No one likes to be benched,” Stazer admitted. “It’s definitely technique with me. I haven’t played much football and I’ve been behind in that regard. Now I feel like I’ve caught up. I like playing on the right side and going up against our defense every day in practice has only made me better.”
SRU head coach Shawn Lutz won’t downplay the importance of Stazer’s development to the success of his team offensively this year.
“We need Nick to be a reliable player. We’re counting on him,” Lutz said. “He’s a nice young man who is athletic and very strong. He’s been working hard on his technique. I’m excited about his prospects this season.”
