| No. 76 –Tennessee Titans | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1999-04-01)April 1, 1999 (age 26) Wonder Lake, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 318 lb (144 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | McHenry (IL) | ||||||
| College: | Culver–Stockton (2017–2021) | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2022 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||
| |||||||
Andrew Rupcich (born April 1, 1999) is an American professionalfootballguard for theTennessee Titans of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football atCulver–Stockton and was signed by the Titans as anundrafted free agent in2022.
Rupcich was born on April 1, 1999, inWonder Lake, Illinois.[1] He attendedMcHenry High School, where he played both basketball and football. On the gridiron he was a two-waylineman, and he was selected all-conference atright tackle as asenior.[2][3] Qualifying for college late, he signed to playcollege football with theCulver–Stockton Wildcats of theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) rather than tryjunior college football or be awalk-on at a higher level.[3]
Rupcich gained a starting role atleft tackle as afreshman in 2017 and went on to play every snap for the rest of his collegiate career.[4] He started all 11 games in 2017 and did the same in 2018 while being named first-team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) North Division.[2][5] He was named the school's athlete of the year in 2018.[6] In 2019, he started all 11 games at left tackle and was chosen first-team All-HAAC North Division for the second time in a row, being the first repeat player to earn the honors at Culver–Stockton since 2014 while helping Culver–Stockton have its first winning season since 2001.[2][5][7] He was also chosen a first-teamAll-American by theAmerican Football Coaches Association (AFCA), being the fifth All-American in school history and the first since 2007.[7] Rupcich also gained notice that year for throwing a 44-yard pass and was given theBanner Society Piesman Award for it.[5][6][8]
Rupcich started all four games at left tackle in theCOVID-19-shortened 2020 season, being first-team AFCA All-American and first-team All-HAAC North Division.[2] He became Culver–Stockton's first two-time All-American.[9] After returning for a final year in 2021, he started all 11 games and was first-team All-American fromAssociated Press, the NAIA and the AFCA while also being first-team All-HAAC North Division.[2][10] He ended his collegiate career having appeared in and started all 48 games in five seasons while missing no snaps, being the first player in NAIA history to be named first-team All-American at the same position three times.[2][4] He was described by NFL analyst Dane Brugler as "Overall ... one of the best offensive linemen to ever come from the NAIA level," and Rupcich was both the only NAIA player to be invited to theNFLPA Collegiate Bowl and to theNFL Scouting Combine.[3][4] He graduated in December 2021 with a degree in physical education and health and was also invited to play at theCollege Gridiron Showcase and theHula Bowl.[11]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 318 lb (144 kg) | 32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 5.31 s | 1.85 s | 3.07 s | 4.90 s | 7.95 s | 31.0 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) | 25 reps | |
| Sources:[12][13] | ||||||||||||
After going unselected in the2022 NFL draft, Rupcich was signed by theTennessee Titans as anundrafted free agent.[14] He was released at the final roster cuts, on August 30, and was re-signed to thepractice squad the following day.[15][16][17] He did not appear in any games in his first season, spending the entire year on the practice squad as the Titans finished with a record of 7–10.[18][19]
Rupcich signed a reserve/future contract on January 23, 2023.[20] He was released at the final roster cuts on August 29, 2023, and then re-signed to the practice squad the following day.[21][22] Rupcich was elevated to the active roster for the team's Week 10 game against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, and made his debut in the 20–6 loss, appearing on 45 offensive snaps and threespecial teams snaps after coming atright guard for the injuredAndre Dillard.[1][23][24] He became the third Culver–Stockton NFL player in history, followingBob Hendren (1949–1951) andJason Kaiser (1998–1999).[25] Rupcich was signed to the 53-man roster on December 23.[26] He finished the season having appeared in five games, two as a starter.[1]
Rupcich appeared in the first seven games of the2024 season, playing 16 offensive snaps as a rotational right guard and 22 snaps on special teams,[27] but unfortunately suffered a season-endingtricep tear during a Week 8 game against theDetroit Lions. He was placed oninjured reserve on November 2, and was later ruled out for the year.[28][29]
