Mike Treese probably made his biggest mark at Altoona Area High School when he ran the lead leg of two gold-medal-winning PIAA track and field relay teams at Shippensburg University last month, but he's hoping to make an impact in another sport when he returns to that college as a student this fall.

"Hopefully, I'll get to play football down there, and there's a possibility I'll be running track down there,'' Treese said "It'll be fun.''

Part of the appeal that made Treese choose Ship over Kutztown, Juniata and Allegheny was the environment. He should feel right at home when he enrolls, because he won't be the only Blair County freshman on the Red Raider football team: Tyrone's Matt Murray and Larry Glace are also set to play.

Murray will be on a partial scholarship, while Glace and Treese are invited walk-ons vying for scholarship money down the road.

"I just felt right when I went for my visit, plus the distance is far enough away from home, but not too far if I need to come back for any reason,'' said Glace, who also considered Juniata, Waynesboro and Lycoming.

Murray was a first-team Altoona Mirror all-area pick in 2008 as an offensive lineman and played there last week at the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association East West All-Star Game. However, he'll most likely be lining up at defensive end for the Red Raiders, and that's fine with him.

"My instincts are really good at that position,'' Murray said. "I like defensive end a lot.''

Murray started for three years for John Franco's Golden Eagles, over which time the team went 32-4. Franco said Shippensburg is getting a motivated player.

"Matt's a player with great intensity. He's a high-motor kid'' Franco said. "He lives in the weight room, and he's a top-notch student.''

Murray said his passion for football grew out of watching his cousins, Tyler and James Updyke, play. The fires might have been further fueled by a rebellious streak because his mother refused to let him play pee-wee football.

"If mom encouraged me to play football,'' Murray said, "I'd probably be playing soccer.''

Murray also had scholarship offers from Clarion and Robert Morris but was sold on the surroundings at Shippensburg.

"I went down there, and it seemed a lot like a family atmosphere,'' Murray said. "A lot of places I went, the coaches didn't seem really to be in touch with the players. It seemed like a big family atmosphere down there, which is what a football team should be. I like that a lot.''

Treese, meanwhile, has been playing organized football since third grade. He played a little bit or everywhere for Phil Riccio's Mountain Lions, and isn't sure exactly where he'll line up for the Raiders.

"I know it's definitely be offense,'' Treese said. "I'll return here and there. I want to be a wide receiver, but they're talking about running back, also.''

As evidenced by his All-American status in track, Treese brings a lot of speed to the table. Against Chambersburg as a senior, he rushed for 113 yards on just six carries.

"He can be a game-changer with the speed that he has. Once you can get him to the outside, he can scoot,'' Riccio said. "I think he's a kid, if you give him opportunities, he can use his speed to have a great college career.''

One couldn't have guessed Glace would be getting an opportunity - a year ago at this time he was an undersized offensive lineman. He changed that all in his junior year of track.

"Larry was a guard for three years. All of a sudden, he just blossomed. In track last year, Tony Yaniello called me and said, 'Watch him run.' I could not believe it,'' Franco said. "He went to the combine at BEA, and he ran 4.5 twice.''

Although he was hesitant to change positions, Glace went on to rush for 1,403 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior. Shippensburg's coaches, though, see his immediate future at linebacker, where he also started for three years in college.

Glace said he liked knowing he'd have some familiar faces as he acclimates to college and college football.

"I felt a lot more comfortable knowing some of the other guys that will be down there,'' Glace said.