SLIPPERY ROCK — Before even taking a snap this season, Zach Sheridan and Akeem Satterfield are wearing the title of All-Americans.

Now the Slippery Rock University gridders want to earn it.

Satterfield, a junior running back, is a preseason All-America pick by The Sporting News and Consensus Draft Services. Sheridan, a senior middle linebacker, was accorded the honor by Consensus Draft Services as well.

Satterfield rushed for 1,352 yards and 20 touchdowns in 10 games as a sophomore. He ranked sec ond in the nation in scoring per game and sixth in yards rushing per contest.

Sheridan accumulated a team-leading 102 tackles, one of only a handful of PSAC players to reach the century mark.

“It’s nice having an experienced, go-to leader type of player like that on each side of the ball,” SRU coach George Mihalik said.

And they want more.

Satterfield was hampered by a bad ankle virtually all of last season. He is entering the 2011 campaign completely healthy.

“The PSAC championship and national playoffs come first,” Satterfield said. “But my personal goal is 2,000 yards. If I stay healthy, I think I can do it.

“Whatever is required to win, I’ll do. If I carry the ball two times in a game, I’ll make the most of both carries. If I get it 35 times, I’ll do what I can with all 35.”

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Satterfield averaged 26 carries per game last year. He had 40 carries against Edinboro, 35 against Gannon and 46 in the season finale against C.W. Post.

“Akeem got all of that yarage with defenses stacking the line to stop him,” SRU offensive coordinator Vic Campagna said. “He’s a physical runner and he wears down defenses ... But defenses wear him down, too.

“If our passing game develops like we think it will, we can force defenses to spread out. Who knows what kind of damage this kid could do then?”

Sheridan’s 102 tackles last year marked the first time a Rock defender reached 100 since linebacker Mike Waszczuk had 102 in 1998.

Inexplicably, Sheridan was left off the All-PSAC team.

“That was an injustice,” Mihalik said. “He made all-region, though, and now preseason All-American. People know he’s out there.”

Sheridan said he wants to average 15 tackles per game and lead all of NCAA Division II in tackles this season.

He had two tackles for loss, two passes broken up and a fumble recovery last year.

“Those are the numbers I have to pick up,” Sheridan said. “I want to be more of an impact player, make more game-changing plays.

“It bothered me a little when I was left off the All-PSAC team, but I wasn’t real popular with opposing coaches. I’m a different person when I’m on the field. I want to hit guys hard. You have to get ‘em scared. This is football. This is a collision sport.”

Defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz likes Sheridan’s mind-set.

“Zach is one of the elite linebackers in Division II,” Lutz said. “He’s always had a big frame, about 6-1, 240. We want him down around 230 because it’s all about speed and quickness.

“(Graduated SRU center) Brandon Fusco got back from the Senior Bowl, where he went up against some of the top Division I linebackers in the country, and said Zach could play with any of those guys.”

For Satterrfield and Sheridan, it’s all about productivity.

“All I want to do is play to my potential, whatever that is,” Satterfield said.

“It’d be nice to go undefeated in our first 11 games. I know I can have a lot to do with making that happen,” Sheridan said.