SLIPPERY ROCK For much of his senior season, Slippery Rock High quarterback Jono Powell was unsure of his future.

There were no misgivings, though, about his present.

Powell was a force for the Rockets, a player the opponent had to stop, but rarely could.

Powell completed 62-of-119 passes for 1,116 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,225 yards and 18 scores and became the first QB to win the Butler Eagle Scoring Trophy.

Yet the 5-foot-8, 165-pound standout doubted whether college football was in the cards.

Most colleges loved his athletic ability, but not his size. Powell also wondered if he even wanted to play football at the next level.

But as Powell walked off the field at Slippery Rock University following an overtime loss to Wilmington in the District 10 Class AA title game, he didn't want his football career to end.

As the weeks passed, he began longing for a place to play in college.

He found it at Waynesburg University.

"I missed football," Powell said. "I couldn't go four years without it."

At Waynesburg, Powell may have found the perfect fit.

The university's nursing program, a career Powell loves just as much as rumbling for touchdowns, is one of the best in the state.

The Yellow Jackets' football program isn't too shabby either, coming off an 8-3 campaign in 2008.

The only thing that is not clear for Powell at Waynesburg is what position he will play.

Shepas recruited Powell as a quarterback, but he has seven on the roster already.

Shepas, though, said he thinks Powell, who was also a starting safety for the Rockets, is capable of making an impact at a variety of positions.

"We like everything he's about," Shepas said. "There are so many things he can do and he has great character. He was such a playmaker at the quarterback position."

Powell has no preference about what position he plays. He just wants to play.

"I'm down with anything," Powell said. "I'll play anywhere they want me.

"I hope I can play right away," Powell added. "I'm going to work hard and see if I can. I'm pumped."

Shepas won't make any predictions on playing time.

The coach is familiar with the often difficult transition a high school player must make between his senior year in high school and the freshman season in college.

Changing positions, like Powell most likely will do, doesn't help the process, either.

Shepas coached at Seneca Valley High School as well as Massillon Washington High School in Ohio before taking over at Waynesburg in 2005.

"The biggest indicator on whether any freshman will play right away at any new program is how he handles the transition from high school to college," Shepas said. "That first summer is kind of an odd one. You're not with your high school team and you're not with your college team.With graduation parties and all those things that go with that ... sometimes kids don't work like they should."

Powell isn't falling into that trap.

He can be found in the weight room two or three times a day.

His zest for getting stronger allowed Powell to stay relatively healthy during his senior season despite taking a pounding in virtually every contest.

"I work as hard as I can in the weight room," Powell said. "I'm going to get as strong as possible."

"That's why we love him," Shepas said. "We hope, just like every recruit we have coming in, that he's in the kind of shape he is capable of being in. I have no doubt he will be."