Playing quarterback with a middle linebacker’s mentality isn’t Gavin Ruppert’s on-field persona by accident.
The contact-seeking 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior is expected to handle both responsibilities for Greenwood this season as it looks to improve on last year’s 5-5 record.
As a junior, Ruppert was inserted into the lineup in six Woodmen games in an attempt to give the team a different look offensively. He’s ready for the challenge of doing it full-time, and then helping the defense as much as he’s asked.
There are, he says, similarities.
“They always say middle linebacker is kind of like the quarterback of the defense. It’s just flipping that mindset quick,” Ruppert said. “It can be tiring on the body, but I worked really hard this offseason because I knew there was a chance I could be playing more at quarterback.
“I did my best to get my body ready, and I think I’m ready to play as many snaps as coach (Mike) Campbell needs me to. If all of us work together and stay healthy, I definitely think we can win some games.”
Unlike most freshmen, Ruppert didn’t wait long for his first tastes of varsity competition, playing significant downs during the 2018 season as the program reloaded following a Class 4A semistate run a year earlier.
This isn’t to imply Ruppert’s career, which has included 160 tackles and 600 rushing yards, has been all rainbows and rushed quarterbacks. In Week 7 of his sophomore season, he was playing defense in a home game against Decatur Central when he sustained a season-ending injury to his left tibia.
Being reduced to a spectator role at practices and games only intensified Ruppert’s love for the sport.
“The support group around me, especially the coaches; they helped reassure my ability, so it really didn’t affect me too much,” said Ruppert of returning from the injury.
This past offseason, Ruppert prepared for his expanded role in the Woodmen offense by working on passing mechanics and throwing to Woodmen targets such as Carter Campbell, Noah Apgar, Alex Honeycutt and Gavin Folco.
“I’ve said this in the past to some people, but I had a quarterback background. I always played that position when I was younger, so coming back to it and starting to throw again, it wasn’t too difficult for me,” Ruppert said. “This offseason I worked really hard to make my throwing better.
“I’m a runner who throws, but I can throw it well.”
Campbell, the Woodmen coach since 2006, has seen quarterbacks of various strengths and skill levels pass through his program. He’s witnessed pocket passers with limited running skills and others who were better at moving the chains with their feet rather than their arm.
Nearly 86 percent of the yardage Greenwood’s offense generated last season came via the run. That number may or may not be reflective of how the Woodmen produce first downs in the weeks ahead, though with Ruppert at the controls, it could well be.
“Playing quarterback might limit some of Gavin’s reps on defense, but he’s a powerful running quarterback who is solid in the passing game,” Campbell said. “He leads with a physical presence, and I think that’s one of the things his teammates love about him.
“They know when it comes time to be physical, Gavin’s going to be first in line.”
