SRU lands high-profile QB, running back, on signing day

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

February 03, 2005 Last Updated: February 03, 2005 01:31 PM College

The numbers aren't plentiful, but they're strong.

Slippery Rock University's football program signed seven players to national letters of intent Wednesday, including a high-profile quarterback and running back.

"We're hoping to get another 10 to 15 kids in the coming weeks," SRU coach George Mihalik said. "But we're pretty pleased with the seven we got.

"We'll go after some linemen now to build some depth there."

Brad Galvan, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback from Strongsville (Ohio), completed 62 percent of his passes for 2,142 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall.

He was MVP of the Pioneer Conference and led his team to the Ohio Division I quarterfinals.

"The kid is extremely athletic and can throw every type of pass," Mihalik said. "He can throw from a three-step drop, a five-step drop, play action or sprint out.

"He knows our quarterback situation and he's ready to compete for it."

Current SRU quarterback Nate Crookshank returns for his sophomore season, yet Galvan chose Slippery Rock over Edinboro, which will have a senior quarterback next fall.

"Galvan has the ability to compete for the job right away," Mihalik said. "Whether he can pick up the system well enough during our 20 summer practices remains to be seen.

"We'll also be looking at redshirt freshman John Molnar this spring. We've developed needed depth at the quarterback position."

Nate Sipes, a 5-11, 215-pound running back from Curwensville, was a first-team, all-state performer who ranked second in the PIAA with 2,534 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns his senior year.

He averaged nine yards per carry and was also a PIAA wrestling champion at 189 pounds.

"He turned down Division I college wrestling offers because he wants to play football," Mihalik said. "He's among the top five ranked 215-pound wrestlers nationally this season."

The Rock returns senior Josh Kniess and sophomore Corey Manfull as experienced backs in 2005.

"If he's ready to play, he'll play," Mihalik said of Sipes. "Or we can redshirt him and he'll be ready to step into our two-back rotation the following year."

Curwensville reached the PIAA Western Final last year. Brad Sopic, a 6-5, 230-pound defensive end, is another Rock recruit from that squad.

A four-year starter, he was named D9sports.com Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.

Other recruits include linebackers Michael Kutchko (Springdale) and Patrick Marsilio (Ambridge) - both of whom will likely redshirt - defensive lineman Tyler Boudreau from Harrisburg Trinity and defensive back Richie Barnes from Washington, Pa.

Boudreau is Trinity's all-time leader in tackles, career sacks with 32½ and single-season sacks with 21½.

"One of the things we emphasized this recruiting season is getting kids from winning programs," Mihalik said. "All of these high school programs were successful.

"These kids know what winning's about and that's important to us right now."

SRU is coming off its second consecutive 4-7 season after compiling a streak of 12 successive winning campaigns.