SLIPPERY ROCK— He was part of a District 9 championship team at Karns City and built a reputation as one of the most fierce tacklers in Butler County.

Cameron Turner isn't used to flying under the radar.

He considers that situation temporary, however.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Turner is leading Lock Haven University's football team with 21 catches for 144 yards this season, despite being a true freshman, playing tight end and missing the first three games of the season with a hyperextended knee.

"Cameron's been one of our most consistent players,"Bald Eagles coach John Klacik said. "And if it wasn't for that injury, he'd be much farther along than he is."

Lock Haven is winless this season and, other than a 24-21 loss to Clarion, hasn't come closer than 26 points to any opponent on its schedule.

That could be considered culture shock for Turner, whose Karns City teams went 29-6 over his three years as a starter, reaching the district playoffs each year.

Lock Haven has won a total of 28 games in the past 12 seasons.

"It's been a little rough, but we expected it,"Turner said. "We have a lot of young guys out there.

"A couple of our best players on defense are freshmen and we have two talented quarterbacks who are redshirting. We'll get there."

That's all part of fourth-year coach Klacik's plan.

"We only had 20-some players when I got here, so we pretty much started over," he said. "We have seven seniors this year. We'll have about 20 next year. That number will keep going up.

"Cameron's one of 30 freshmen on this team and they're all seeing significant playing time."

Turner has not been overwhelmed by the move from high school to college football.

"We run about 10 times as many plays here as we did in high school,"he said. "Once I learned all the plays, there's not much difference. Football is football.

"I don't think we're all that far from turning this program around. We only trailed Gannon 6-0 at halftime, we were 7-7 with IUPat the half and we were in this game (trailing Slippery Rock 17-7 at intermission Saturday).

"We're going to win games. That's why I came here. I want to be part of the class that turns this team around," Turner added.

Klacik is 5-38 at Lock Haven and the Bald Eagles haven't had a winning season since finishing 6-4 in 1981.

The Bald Eagles have used three different quarterbacks this year, though Turner has remained a constant at tight end.

"The turnover at quarterback hasn't been that difficult for me,"Turner said. "You just hope they have down who's running what routes."

Turner was recruited by Ohio University, Miami (Ohio), Marshall and numerous other PSACschools before deciding on Lock Haven.

"I like where the coach is taking the program and the attitude of the players,"Turner said. "Everybody wants to succeed."

Turner caught 48 passes for 971 yards and eight touchdowns during his high school career. A standout defensive end with the Gremlins as well, he had 66 tackles and 14 sacks during his senior year.

Lock Haven has no plans to move Turner to defense in coming years, however.

"He'll continue to grow and mature at tight end,"Klacik said. "He's becoming a force there. Cameron's one of a number of players in that recruiting class to come from a winning high school program. That will help."

A criminal justice major, Turner's goals include becoming an all-conference player and helping Lock Haven go from worst to first in the PSACWest.

"I want this program to be in much better shape by the time I leave," he said.

He still follows Karns City football closely, making the drive from Lock Haven to arrive at his old high school stadium by halftime of the Moniteau game this year.

"There was nothing like playing there,"he said of Karns City. "The atmosphere, the feeling that you're going to win every game you play. ... I miss it.

"I want to experience that again."