Henry Litwin, Jermaine Wynn turn heads at Slippery Rock
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. (BVM) — Tucked away in the backroads of western Pennsylvania is Slippery Rock University, a school with a unique name and a football program that has distinguished itself as one Div. II鈥檚 finest. The Rock鈥檚 sustained success is due in part to an experienced and potent receiving tandem that鈥檚 gained the attention of those in the professional ranks.
Henry Litwin and Jermaine Wynn were both local products who took unconventional courses to prominence with The Rock. Neither went without facing obstacles.
Even having graduated from Conneaut Area High School as his league鈥檚 single-season leader in receiving yards and touchdowns, Litwin was largely overlooked.
鈥淥ut of high school, I was all-state,鈥� Litwin said. 鈥淚 was expecting big things from that but, just being from the area I鈥檓 from, there鈥檚 not a ton of recruits.鈥�
鈥淚 remember him trying out and we unfortunately didn鈥檛 offer him a scholarship,鈥� Slippery Rock head coach Shawn Lutz said, adding that the receiver had full rides from Mercyhurst and Seton Hill. 鈥淗e turned down a significant amount of money to come (here).鈥�
Out of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Woodland Hills High School, the alma mater of both Rob Gronkowski and Jason Taylor, Wynn first attended Alderson Broaddus鈥攖he only school to offer him a full scholarship. He decided he was going to join the Rock after a redshirt freshman year in which he paced the Battlers in receiving.
But the team鈥檚 head coach wouldn鈥檛 grant his release. Without it, the wideout would have had to sit idle for a season.
鈥淚 showed and proved that I was their best player as a freshman,鈥� Wynn said.聽 鈥�(Lutz) called down to their athletic director every day for about two months straight until (they let me go).鈥�
Growing up, both pass-catchers dreamt of catching the interest of pro scouts. At least one scout from each team in the NFL has stopped by, Lutz said.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 talk about too much football,鈥� Wynn said. 鈥淭hey just really want to come and assess the person that we are and the places that we come from.鈥�
If he finds his way onto a pro roster, Wynn understands that small-school players very seldom get their chance in the spotlight right away. He has an idea of what it would take to develop into a dependable slot receiver.
鈥淚 have nothing short of next-level speed,鈥� Wynn said. 鈥淚 can also help an NFL team in the return game. My mindset every time I go back to catch a punt or to catch a kick is, I want to change the game.鈥�
Litwin believes his selfless nature can be a benefit.
鈥淚鈥檓 not necessarily a dude who鈥檚 all about stats and stuff,鈥� Litwin said. 鈥淚 know everybody loves to keep track of how many touchdowns and how many yards I鈥檝e had, but I鈥檝e just thought about winning a national championship.鈥�
If Litwin were to keep an eye on his numbers, he would see that his 40 receiving scores are the most in SRU lore. As of right now, he needs 15 grabs and 220 yards to break the school鈥檚 records in those categories, as well.
Opposite him, Wynn ranks third in program history in receiving yards and fourth in receptions. With 30 career touchdown catches, he trails only Litwin as the Rock鈥檚 all-time leader.
Slippery Rock will clash with California (Pa.) on Saturday, the winner securing the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division crown and the right to play in the conference championship game against Kutztown next week.
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