Andrew Rupcich

Andrew Rupcich's Biography

Andrew Rupcich, born on April 1, 1999, is an accomplished professional football player, currently lining up as an offensive lineman for the Tennessee Titans in the National Football League (NFL). His journey to the NFL stems from a fruitful collegiate career at Culver-Stockton and his maiden break in the professional league came in 2022 when the Titans favored him with an undrafted free agent agreement.

Rupcich’s athletic journey began at McHenry High School, where he excelled in both basketball and football. In football particularly, he distinguished himself as a versatile lineman and as a senior, was named all-conference at right tackle. As he finished high school, he opted to play college football for the Culver-Stockton Wildcats, a decision that turned out to be instrumental in shaping up his future career.

Once at Culver-Stockton, Rupcich quickly made his mark. By his freshman year in 2017, he was already the starting left tackle, a role he would steadfastly perform in every single game spanning the entirety of his collegiate career. He was a consistent performer; he started all 11 games both in 2017 and 2018, earning him a spot in the first-team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) North Division. He was rewarded with the Athlete of the Year honor by his school in his second year, further attesting to his talents.

In 2019, Rupcich stamped his authority on college football even more definitively. He began all 11 games as a left tackle, earning another first-team All-HAAC North Division nomination, making him the first player since 2014 to receive the honor twice in a row at Culver-Stockton. Moreover, he was instrumental in helping the Wildcats clinch their first winning season since 2001. He also earned first-team All-American status by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), becoming only the fifth All-American in the school’s history and the first since 2007. That year, Rupcich’s football talents diversified as he threw a 44-yard pass, earning him the Banner Society Piesman Award.

Despite the disruption of the 2020 season by the COVID-19 pandemic, Rupcich started all four games at left tackle, maintaining his first-team All-American status as well as bagging his first All-HAAC North Division. This also made him the first two-time All-American from Culver-Stockton. In his final year in 2021, he started all games and retained his All-American nominations, this time from Associated Press, the NAIA, and the AFCA. This culminated in his distinguishing as the first-ever player in NAIA history to be named first-team All-American at the same position three times.

He finished his studies in December 2021, bagging a degree in physical education and health. He successfully showcased his football skills at the College Gridiron Showcase and the Hula Bowl, and this contributed to his selection by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in the 2022 NFL draft.

Although he encountered a few setbacks, including a release in late August, he was re-signed to the practice squad. The 2022 season found him in the practice squad, as the Titans rolled out a 7-10 record. He was elevated to an active player late in the season, debuting against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 10 at right guard, after Andre Dillard’s injury. He, therefore, joined the ranks of Bob Hendren and Jason Kaiser to become the third Culver-Stockton NFL player in history. Although his maiden NFL season saw him play in five games, two as a starter, it was a solid foundation upon which he could build his professional career. Overall, Andrew Rupcich is a rising star in the NFL and a player to watch out for in the coming seasons.