SR’s Sabo staying home
SLIPPERY ROCK — Family, location, tradition and opportunity.
All played a factor in Slippery Rock High School senior receiver John Sabo’s decision to continue his academic and football career at Slippery Rock University. He verbally committed to SRU last weekend.
Sabo’s father, John Sabo, was a wide receiver for SRU from 1997 through 2000 and was part of three PSAC West championship and NCAA Division II playoff teams.
“I used my father as a sounding board for SRU, to get a feel for what it’d be like there and what the school had to offer,” the younger Sabo said. “He wanted to make sure I made the decision that was best for me, for what I wanted.
“He never put any pressure on me to go there. This whole process was about my best interests and I appreciated that.”
Sabo also considered Edinboro and Saint Francis (Pa.) before opting for The Rock. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Sabo caught 47 passes for 633 yards and eight touchdowns last season in helping the Rockets reach the District 10 championship game.
“I’m proud of him,” Sabo’s father said. “Johnny knows the challenge ahead of him. There have been great receivers go through that program and he knows he’s got work to do to get to that level.
“(Current SRU head coach) Shawn Lutz was my position coach when I played there. Offensive coordinator Drew Moulton was a Division 1 wide receiver (at Northwestern). Johnny’s going to get the coaching and he’s got a great work ethic. When his time comes there,. he’ll be ready.”
Sabo plans to major in business management.
He said planning to attend college and play Division II football across the street has its advantages.
“I’ll be able to get with the other receivers, sit down with them and get to know them,” he said. “I’ll get into the playbook that much faster. All of those things will help me out.”
No one knows the SRU receivers better than Sabo’s father, who says he’s been “well invested” in the football program for a number of years.
The elder Sabo works in management for Deep Valley Services, an energy equipment business based in Zelienople. Former standout Rock receiver Henry Litwin now works there and Kyle Sheets, the leading receiver on SRU’s 2022 squad, is serving an internship with the company.
“I’ve worked with safety managenment students at SRU through the business,” Sabo Sr. said. “I’m excited that my son’s going there, not just because it’s close to home, but because he’s going to a national Division II contender, one of the best football programs at that level in the country.”
Equally excited for his senior receiver is Slippery Rock High School football coach Larry Wendereusz.
“John has put in the work, invested the time in getting better at his position,” Wendereusz said. “He’s gone to different clinics and schools. He’s got the foot speed and he knows how to position his body to shield the defender.
“To compete at receiver at SRU, he needs to get stronger and faster — and he knows that. But they see the potential in him and John sees the potential in himself. I know he’s going to put in the time and take his shot.”
Sabo’s goal is to earn his turn in line and take advantage of it once it comes.
“I want to become one of the main guys and help extend the run of success they’ve had at receiver,” he said. “SRU has a winning culture, great academics, it’s here at home ... I’m excited about all of it.”
