SLIPPERY ROCK — With 10 of 11 starters leaving on defense, the Slippery Rock University football staff went searching for replacements.

And found them.

SRU is bringing in three defensive linemen as collegiate transfers. Among the 16 high school seniors The Rock signed on Wednesday, 13 play on the defensive side of the ball.

“We had to emphasize defense this year since we're losing so many guys,” SRU coach Shawn Lutz said. “We picked up some guys who we expect will help us right away.”

The four transfers are at the forefront in that regard.

Tyler Schneider was a two-year starter at Austin Peay and recorded 122 tackles and 16.5 quarterback sacks his senior year in high school. Tim Soave was a standout defensive lineman at Lackawanna Junior College. Zach Madden is a 270-pound defensive tackle from Penn in the Ivy League.

“Schneider could be the guy who starts on the opposite end of Marcus Martin next year,” Lutz said. “Zach Madden is graduating from Penn this May and has two years of football eligibility left.

“He is looking for some stiffer competition.”

Two other transfers will be joining The Rock. Bryson Briggs had 49 tackles in nine games as a defensive back at Bakersfield Junior College in California.

The plum recruit may be on offense as Ian Park, a two-year starter at right guard for Northwestern in the Big Ten, will play his final year of eligibility at SRU. He is from Upper St. Clair. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Park has a degree from Northwestern and is already enrolled at The Rock.

“He ran out of time at Division I,” Lutz said. “You have five years to play four seasons at that level. He was red-shirted as a freshman and fractured an ankle before last season.

“To play his last year, he had to go Division II. This guy wants to play in the NFL and he can play anywhere along our offensive line. He'll be an anchor for us.”

Among the high school recruits, seven are linebackers and four are defensive backs. They include a pair of Neshannock linebackers in Danny Welker (70 tackles, seven interceptions) and Sean Doran (44 tackles, nine sacks), Arison Sanders from state champion Akron Hoban, Jacarri Cleckley from state champion Beaver Falls.

Cleckley had 93 tackles last season.

“We love bringing guys in from winning programs,” Lutz said.

Twin brothers Dorian Johnson (def. back) and Maryce Johnson (linebacker) from West Mifflin are younger brothers of graduating Rock safety Derrick Fulmore. Dorian returned four interceptions for touchdowns last season and could impact SRU immediately as a kick returner.

“He is electric with the ball in his hands. We just have to get him out in space,” Lutz said.

SRU is adding two speedy wide receivers and a physical running back as well. Kwis Montinard runs the 40-ard dash in 4.34 seconds and had 1,100 all-purpose yards for Conrad Weiser High School. Noah Woods caught 37 passes for 1,003 yards and 12 TDs at State College.

Koby Khan had 213 carries for 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns for Souderton.

“We felt like we needed a physical, pounding type of back and we got one,” Lutz said. “Montinard reminds me of a (SRU's top receiver) Marques Johnson type, only with more speed.”

Lutz admitted he hoped to land one more offensive lineman and defensive back, but likes the quality of his 2017 recruiting class.

“Of the guys we had listed at the top of our board at their positions, we got all of them. Not many schools can claim that,” Lutz said.

Here is the 2017 Slippery Rock University football recruiting class (high school in parentheses):- Ian Park, 6-4, 315-pound offensive lineman, transfer from Northwestern (Upper St. Clair)- Tyler Schneider, 6-4, 250-pound defensive end, transfer from Austin Peay (Rancocas Valley, N.J.)- Tim Soave, 6-1, 260-pound defensive lineman, junior transfer from Lackawanna (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.)- Bryson Briggs, 5-10, 185-pound defensive back, junior transfer from Bakersfield (Bakersfield, Calif.)- Zach Madden, 6-4, 270-pound defensive tackle from Univ. of Pennsylvania (Medford)- Trysten McDonald, 6-1, 200-pound linebacker from Camp Hill (Cedar Cliff)- Owen Jacobs, 6-3, 265-pound defensive lineman from Spring Grove (Spring Grove)- Danny Welker, 6-1, 190-pound linebacker from New Castle (Neshannock)- Sean Doran, 5-10, 205-pound linebacker from New Castle (Neshannock)- Kwis Montinard, 6-2, 195-pound wide receiver from Robesonia (Conrad Weiser)- Arison Sanders, 6-0, 205-pound linebacker from Akron, Ohio (Akron Hoban)- Khadir Roberts, 5-11, 160-pound cornerback from Radnor (Archbishop Carroll)- Dalton Holt, 6-0, 195-pound defensive back from Monongahela (Ringgold)- Koby Khan, 6-0, 220-pound running back from Souderton (Souderton)- Garrett De Bien, 6-2, 245-pound defensive end from Lebanon (Cedar Crest)- Dorian Johnson, 5-10, 160-pound defensive back from West Mifflin (West Mifflin)- Maryce Johnson, 6-0, 220-pound linebacker from West Mifflin (West Mifflin)- David Hernandez, 6-1, 225-pound linebacker from Hubbard, Ohio (Hubbard)- Noah Woods, 6-1, 170-pound wide receiver from State College (State College)- Jacarri Cleckley, 6-0, 215-pound linebacker from Beaver Falls (Beaver Falls)- De’Vijan Franklin, 6-2, 190-pound cornerback from Woodbridge (Hylton)