JACKSON TWP — It was a day for Kevan Smith and Brandon Fusco to look toward the future.

And both Seneca Valley students like what they see.

Smith, a senior quarterback, and Fusco, an offensive guard, signed letters of intent Wednesday to play football in college. Both are receiving scholarships.

Smith is headed to the University of Pittsburgh while Fusco has chosen Slippery Rock University.

The 6-foot-3, 217-pound Smith verbally committed to Pitt last summer, and he's headed to a Panthers squad that is coming off the program's first losing campaign since 1999.

Pitt finished 5-6 last season under first-year coach Dave Wannstedt.

"A team gets a good coach and a lot of people expect it to win right away," Smith said. "But there has to be a bonding process between the coach and players. Once that takes place, then the team can be successful."

Smith passed for

1,459

yards and

eight

touchdowns last season. But those numbers don't reflect his potential.

"There's no question that Kevan has what it takes to be successful at the next level," said Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle. "He has everything that you can't coach, and I think he's just going to get better with experience."

Having the opportunity to learn from an experienced college quarterback like Tyler Palko won't hurt, either.

Palko, who has passed for 5,459 yards and 41 touchdowns over the last two seasons, will be returning as a redshirt senior next fall.

"He's a really impressive guy," Smith said. "He's got many qualities, on and off the field, that I would like to have."

The only other quarterback on Pitt's recruit list Wednesday was 6-4, 220-pound Dexter Davidson from Boca Raton, Fla.

A two-time all-state performer, Davidson set Broward County (Fla.) records for career yards passing (6,011), touchdown passes (78), completions (329) and attempts (537).

Fusco started the last two seasons at Seneca Valley, moving from center to guard this past season.

Besides SRU, his other options included Youngstown State, Morehead (Ky.) State and Seton Hill. But in the end, his final decision proved to be an easy one.

"The coaching staff at SRU treated me as if they were my parents," Fusco said. "And they gave me a better chance to play early."

"Brandon's size is his biggest strength," Butschle said of the 6-foot-4, 250 pound lineman. "He's very athletic for someone his size and he's just going to get bigger. He has a lot of potential."

Fusco might have to switch from guard to tackle, a change he's not concerned about.

"It really doesn't matter to me," he said. "As long as I get on the field."

The Rock has stability, as head coach George Mihalik will be entering his 19th season with the team in August.

SRU won five of its final seven games last season and finished 4-2 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Western Division.

Though Wednesday was the signing date for high school players across the country, Seneca Valley athletic director Greg Caprara put things in perspective.

"The NCAA recently did a study that revealed of the 1 million-plus high school football players, only 1.5 percent receive scholarships," he said.

"We are very proud of both Kevan and Brandon for representing Seneca Valley so well."