Three standout student-athletes joined the Slippery Rock football team during last month's NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent signing day.
Headlining the list is Sal Faieta, a 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound quarterback-linebacker from Brownsville, and Bethlehem Center High School.
According to Jason Makrinos, Slippery Rock's recruiting coordinator, Faieta will start his collegiate career on defense.
A four-year letterman in football and track and field, Faieta helped the Bulldogs win WPIAL Class A Tri-County South Conference championships in 2009 and 2011.
Last fall, Faieta made 85 total tackles, with four interceptions, which he returned for a combined total of 90 yards.The Bulldogs posted four shutouts in 2011 and held seven of nine regular season opponents to six points or less.
On offense he passed for 1,315 yards and 18 touchdowns and also scored 10 rushing touchdowns. He was a team captain each of his last three seasons and was a three-time PA Football News honorable mention all-state and all-tri-county South Conference selection.
During his junior year he won a silver medal in the javelin toss at the 2011 WPIAL championships.
"Sal is an unbelievable athlete for his size," said Makrinos. He is very strong and has a 9-6 broad jump."
Ringgold athlete headed to "The Rock"
Versatile and fast would be apt words in describing Alfon Cook, a 5-foot-8-inch, 160-pound defensive back from Ringgold.
In 2011 Cook recorded 34 total tackles on defense and rushed for 334 yards with four scores.
He scored four special teams touchdowns while averaging 31.5 yards per punt return and 32.3 yards per kick return.
Cook's all-round play helped the Rams compile a 17-4 cumulative record over the past two years. Ringgold won the 2010 WPIAL Class AAA Keystone Conference title and had an undefeated regular season.
Last fall the Rams advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals for the first time since 1999.
"Alfon is very athletic and did pretty much everything during his high school career," Makrinos said. "He will begin his college career as a cornerback."
Charleroi tackle to make contribution
Also looking to solidify Slippery Rock's defensive unit in 2012 will be Mike Kope, an imposing 6-foot, 285-pound tackle from Charleroi High School.
A four-year football letterman, Kope earned first-team All-Interstate Conference and all-County honors following the 2011 season.
He also received the 2011 Best Team Player Award and was selected the Cougars' Defensive Line Most Valuable Player as a junior.
"Mike has the potential to be a nose guard for us," Makrinos said. "He has great quickness off the ball, good leverage and can put a lot of pressure on the quarterback."
The three Mon Valley players join a Slippery Rock squad that compiled an 8-3 overall record last fall and tied for the PSAC-Western Division championship with nearby California University of Pennsylvania. Both teams went 6-1 in divisional play. Slippery Rock and 25th-year head coach George Mihalik is hoping to make its first NCAA Division II playoff appearance since 1999.
Slippery Rock senior wide receiver Devin Goda recently earned honorable mention All-America recognition from both the Don Hansen Football Committee and D2Football.com. He also attained first-team Capital One Academic All-America honors and was named to the list of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Fall 2011 Top 10 Award recipients.
Originated in 1997-98, the PSAC Top 10 Awards are presented in the fall, winter and spring seasons to five female and five male recipients who excel in both the classroom and in the area of competition. The award winners are determined by a vote of PSAC sports information directors.
From Monongahela and a graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School, Goda ranked second in the PSAC in catches per game (6.8) and third in yards per game (93.5). He caught 75 passes for 1,028 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Goda, who played in 43 of The Rock's 44 games since 2008 finished his four-collegiate career ranked second in team history in both receptions (173) and yardage (2,259). He was a three-time All-PSAC-West selection and a first-team Academic All-District selection in both 2010 and 2011.
