SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University Head Football Coach George Mihalik announced Tuesday the addition of nine student-athletes to The Rock's list of newcomers for the 2010 season.

The Rock has now announced the addition of 24 student-athletes for the upcoming season as 15 newcomers committed to the Green and White on Feb. 2. Click here to view a press release on that group of newcomers.

The list of latest additions is headlined by LaQuinn Stephens-Howling, a 5-foot-7, 155-pound wide receiver from Greater Johnstown High School, where he led his team to a Class AAA District 6 championship last fall.

Also joining The Rock were two Butler High School student-athletes, defensive back Eli Christy and wide receiver Cole Harvey; Julian Brown, a defensive back from McKeesport; James Forsythe, a punter from Canton McKinley High School in Ohio; Ron Harris, a linebacker from Baldwin High School; Jeff Isbell, an offensive lineman from Yough High School; Pat Matusz, an offensive lineman from Greenville High School; and Brian Shaw, a kicker from Burrell High School.

Stephens-Howling, brother of former Pitt standout and current NFL Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, rushed for 362 yards and four touchdowns and caught 12 passes for 197 yards and two TDs in his senior season at Greater Johnstown. He also averaged 51.4 yards per kickoff return and 11.8 yards per punt return and intercepted three passes as a defensive back. He will begin his collegiate career as a wide receiver and return specialist, according to Mihalik.

"LaQuinn has amazing quickness with the ability to make defenders miss," Mihalik said. "He is a definite big-play threat."

Stephens-Howling was named as the 2009 SAFCA Offensive MVP and also earned Johnstown Tribune-Democrat all-area and all-conference first-team honors as a senior.

Christy (6-1, 180), a second-team all-conference performer last fall who served as team captain for his football, basketball and track teams and earned three letters in each sport, is "a gifted athlete with great speed and agility who can play either safety or cornerback," Mihalik said.

Harvey (5-11, 185), a first-team Northern Six and All-Butler County selection as a defensive back and Butler's starting quarterback last fall, will begin his collegiate career as a wide receiver at SRU.

A two-time football team captain and three-sport (football, lacrosse and basketball) at Butler, "Cole is a fierce competitor and an athlete who can line up on either side of the ball," Mihalik said.

Brown (5-10, 175) has "great quickness and speed that makes him a super cover corner," in the words of Mihalik. Brown earned a first-team all-conference honor as a senior and is a member of the school's baseball team.

Forsythe (6-2, 200) is the heir apparent to two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division performer Kyle Witman as The Rock's punter.

"James has a big-time leg and the potential to become a great punter," Mihalik said. "He can make an impact as a freshman.”

Forsythe earned first-team All-Ohio Division I (big school) status as a senior, as well as first-team All-Northeast Inland District and first-team All-Federal League honors. He averaged 41.7 yards per punt in his final scholastic season.

Harris (6-1, 230), who Mihalik described as "an extremely strong interior linebacker who loves to hit," earned first-team all-conference and NAFCA All-Star Game honors in 2009 after being a second-team all-conference selection as a junior. He lettered three seasons at Baldwin.

Isbell (6-1, 280) is a "thick and strong two-way player who will be a factor for us on either the offensive or defensive line," according to Mihalik. Isabell earned first-team all-conference honors last fall.

Matusz (6-3, 285) is a "tough and hard-nosed offensive lineman who will provide a physical presence," in the words of Mihalik.

Matusz is a two-time Pennsylvania Football News All-Academic State award winner who also earned first-team all-region and Greenville Lions Club Coaches Award honors in 2009, when he served as a team captain. A three-year letterman, he earned second-team all-region status as a junior.

Shaw (5-10, 170), a first-team all-conference performer as a senior, has "an extremely strong leg and is a very effective kickoff guy as well as a field goal specialist," according to Mihalik.