Former Greenwood standout and freshman linebacker Gavin Ruppert (46) is the leading tackler for Wabash College this season.
Submitted photo
Like most freshmen, Gavin Ruppert’s introduction to college football was as an observer.
The linebacker’s sideline view of Wabash College erasing a 12-point deficit early in the fourth quarter and defeating visiting Hampden-Sydney in the season opener, while exciting, was also excruciating.
“It was tough that first game,” remembers Ruppert, a former Greenwood player. “In high school, I really played both sides of the ball, so I wasn’t on the sideline very often. But I knew that if I got the opportunity that I would succeed.
“I just didn’t think I would be a starter this early in my career.”
Oh, but Ruppert is – and then some.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder leads the Little Giants with 86 tackles, or 31 more than the team’s second-most-productive player in that category, going into Saturday’s 128th renewal of the Monon Bell Classic at DePauw.
Ruppert’s path from spectator to downright special began with a Week 2 loss to NAIA No. 2 North Central (Illinois), 56-12. The game’s lopsidedness in the second half allowed Ruppert to get on the field, where he proceeded to contribute eight tackles, tying him for the team lead.
“Coming into that game, it was kind of a speed shock,” Ruppert said. “That first drive, I was breathing heavily, but I ended up having a decent game.”
Opportunity began knocking in two-fisted fashion the following week.
Early in the Little Giants’ 48-14 victory at Wooster (Ohio), starting inside linebacker Cooper Jarvis went out of the game with a sprained meniscus. Ruppert was inserted and responded with 10 tackles and one pass break-up, and he has been ringing up impressive numbers ever since.
Ruppert made his first college start in Week 4 against Denison, a three-point loss highlighted by the freshman’s 18 tackles and recovered fumble. A recent 59-23 dismantling of visiting Hiram saw him produce 16 tackles, including seven solo stops, and pick up North Coast Atlantic Conference defensive player of the week honors.
As the season has progressed, Ruppert has only gotten better; he racked up 13 tackles in Saturday’s 49-25 home win over Kenyon, his fifth game with double-digit stops.
“Coming into (preseason) camp, I wanted to learn the speed of the game and learn the playbook,” he said. “It was pretty demanding, so it took some time. Now that I have the playbook down, it becomes instinctual.”
Ruppert’s final season of high school competition ended with him tied for the Woodmen lead in tackles with 60. On offense, he played quarterback, finishing the season with 896 yards rushing and passing for another 187. Ruppert also found time to make nine catches for 107 yards.
First-year linebackers coach Evan Stambaugh is, like Ruppert, new to the Wabash College program.
It didn’t take long for the latter to begin making an impression.
“It’s persistence and it’s just grit,” said Stambaugh, a former defensive back at Franklin College. “Me being so new here, I didn’t know a lot about Gavin at first. But the first few days of practice, I could tell he was going to be special.
“He just has a very natural feel for being around the football. It’s a huge strength of his that he played offense, too, in high school. Gavin’s football IQ is very high.”
As is the freshman’s ceiling.
