SLIPPERY ROCK— Don't call him Slash just yet. But get ready to.

Brad Mueller, a Mars graduate who earned a communications degree from Boston College, is finishing up his education and college football career as a safety and environmental management major at Slippery Rock University.

He is vying for playing time at strong safety. He may wind up doing a lot more than that.

"He brings incredible speed to our team and we only have him for one year,"SRUcoach George Mihalik said. "We're going to utilize Brad's talents in every way we can."

Besides playing free safety, Mueller has been working out returning kickoffs and punts in practice this month. He's also seeing time on the kickoff and punt coverage units.

Mihalik said a package may be put in for Mueller as a running back as well. Mueller set school records with 3,460 career rushing yards and 37 touchdowns, including 2,126 yards and 25 scores his senior year at Mars.

All of this is fine with Mueller, who just wants to play.

"Obviously, my goal is to start at safety and be out there all the time,"he said. "But a lot of this stuff is new to me. I'm changing positions and I'm learning a new system.

"I'm settling in, though. It's coming to me a little better each day."

Mueller played cornerback at Boston College, seeing action in six games at that position and on special teams last season. He played in four games and had seven tackles his junior year at B.C.

"I would have liked to haveplayed more, but I don't regret going there,"he said. "I got my degree and I had a great experience.

"Slippery Rock's safety program is the main reason I'm here, but I have another year of football eligibility left and I want to use it."

SRUdefensive backs coach Rob Keys is thrilled to have him.

"His time in the 40 is 4.2 seconds,"Keys said. "That is blazing speed. He's going through some growing pains learning our system right now, but that speed can make up for a lot.

"Brad doesn't seem as fast in practice yet because he still has to think before he reacts on a play. Once he's pure reaction, look out."

Playing corner, Mueller only had to lock down on one player. Now he needs to make reads and cover the entire field.

He'll have to provide more run support as well.

"He will have to be a little more physical than he's used to,"Keys said. "But Brad's a strong kid. He's put together and he'll have no problem."

"It's a lot different and it's gonna take some time,"Mueller said. "Maybe I won't be starting until the second or third game, but that's still my goal."

Jim D'Amico, a returning starter, is ahead of Mueller on The Rock's depth chart right now.

Mihalik likes the approach Mueller has shown since the first day he came to camp.

"A lot of times, you'll get Division I kids stepping into Division IIprograms figuring they're above this level talent-wise and all they have to do is show up,"the coach said. "That's not Brad.

"He came in with a humble attitude and he's working to contribute to this team. We don't normally bring in guys with only one year left, but Brad Mueller has already graduated, he's a local kid and he has tremendous character. That's the kind of transfer we want."

Mueller is taking a wait-and- see approach to what his eventual role on the field will be.

"I have no idea what's in store,"he said. "This is a good team with a lot of good players. I want to start, but I'm not sure what the reality is there. We'll find out."