SLIPPERY ROCK — One year ago, athletic life was pretty uncomplicated for Zack Ejzak.

The most ponderous decision that faced the Slippery Rock High senior was how baggy to wear his basketball shorts.

His athletic pursuit was a simple one: basketball. There was no other sport.

But then Ejzak, a 6-foot-1 lean package of athleticism, decided to give football a whirl last fall.

After a season in which the first-year wide receiver set school records in receptions (44) and receiving yardage (889) and made the Class AAA all-state team, Ejzak suddenly was faced with a difficult decision: whether to play basketball or football in college.

"That was the hardest thing," Ejzak said. "That was the thing that was holding me back from making a decision — I wasn't sure if I wanted to give up basketball."

But Ejzak has done just that, opting to play football across the street at Slippery Rock University.

It was a decision that thrilled The Rock coaching staff, who see Ejzak as more than just an intriguing project.

"He's one of our top incoming freshmen," said SRU defensive coordinator Shawn Lutz, who was once the recruiting coordinator at the school. "I've been at Slippery Rock since 1996, and I don't think we've had a recruit who's played just one year of football. He's just scratching the surface on what he can do on the football field.

"I think he can have a great career here."

Ejzak made the decision to play football because he figured his future was brighter on the gridiron instead of on the hardwood.

Recruited by several schools in both sports, Ejzak was getting better offers and more interest from football coaches enamored with his untapped potential.

At times, the attention was daunting.

Once he made the decision, Ejzak finally was able to exhale.

"It's just a big relief," he said.

Ejzak will begin his football career as a walk-on, but could get scholarship money later. He most likely will be redshirted, which will come as no surprise to him.

Ejzak admits he has a lot of learning to do.

"I really don't know that much about the strategy of football," Ejzak said. "I've watched it and I know some things, but I don't know what I need to know to play at SRU. But I'm going to learn."

Ejzak said he plans to attend every camp this spring and summer. Lutz said Ejzak also will hit the weight room hard to add muscle to his frame.

One thing is for certain: There is no shortage of demand within The Rock coaching staff for his services.

"It's funny. We're already fighting over him," Lutz said. "He put up tremendous numbers at wide receiver, but he's so athletic and he fits that size that we believe he could be a really good safety."

Ejzak was indeed an impact player on defense for the Rockets last season.

Playing defensive end, Ejzak led the team with five sacks and was third on the team with 55 tackles.

He was relentless in pursuit of the quarterback or the ballcarrier, which drew the attention of Lutz.

"He's not timid at all," Lutz said. "When you get a guy who plays basketball, sometimes when they are on the football field, they are a little timid. Ifeel like he was a football player who also played basketball, not the other way around."

Ejzak has no idea what to expect from his football career. But that is nothing new.

He had no idea what to expect last summer when he made the decision to give football a try for the Rockets.

And that turned out pretty well.

"I'm going to lift and get stronger and learn as much as I can about the game," Ejzak said. "I hope in a year or so I will be ready to play."