A fresh outlook for the Rock
Slippery Rock University’s football program entered the 2026 season with a clear message: the Rock is back in the conversation for the top spot in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s West Division.
The preseason coaches poll placed Indiana (Pa.) at the summit with five first‑place votes, while California (Pa.) secured the third slot, leaving Slippery Rock positioned just behind the leaders with three of the seven votes.
Coach Shawn Lutz, now in his 31st year at the helm, reminded that the team finished 6‑4 last fall and saw its six‑year NCAA playoff streak snapped, ending a run that had made SRU the second‑longest active streak in Division II.
The Rock’s schedule opens with a ‘Week Zero’ showdown against nationally ranked Minnesota Duluth on August 27, a team that finished 10‑2 last year and advanced to the playoffs, followed by a month of road games that will test the squad early.
Offensively, the team will lean on running back JayJay Jordan, the PSAC West Offensive Athlete of the Year, while quarterback DaOne Owens faces competition from returner Brad Hoffman and newcomer Jacob Snow, as the offensive line welcomes just one returning starter, Joe Cooper, who recently signed with the Canadian Football League.
Defensively, the line returns intact, anchored by Daniel Tooson, who overcame injury setbacks, and benefits from the arrival of new defensive backs coach LaTraviaus Kingsland, who brings fresh schemes alongside veterans such as Teddy Gregory Jr., Ben Lane and Carmen Metcalfe.
Special teams will undergo a redesign after key departures, with kicker Evan Harper and punter Kwalil Shepperson leading the effort, while freshmen Connor Macek and Billy Lech look to contribute on coverage units.