Truman Gutapfel: The Birth of a Rushman
October 01, 2016 | Football
In the 2013 season, the defense recorded an astonishing 35 sacks and 87 tackles for a loss. That season, the “rushmen” were born and so was then-freshman DT Truman Gutapfel.
At the conclusion of every practice, the final horn sounds and the team as a unit, huddles together to go over the final thoughts of the session. Following that, before heading off the field, individual groups of players meet together, including the defensive line.
As the defensive line breaks down the practice and what needs to be worked on, together, the players raise their hands in the middle of the circle and as one, break the circle with one word: "Rushmen."
It is no secret that the Boston College defensive line has terrorized offenses with their relentless attack, constant pressure and only caring about getting the job done no matter what. What many people don't realize is that this relentless attack, this "rushmen" mentality, was not always how the defense portrayed itself.
To fully understand the origin of the "rushmen", we have to go back to 2012. In the 2012 season, Boston College finished 2-10 and the defense struggled to put pressure on any offensive line or quarterback. In the 12 games that year, the defense managed to only record six sacks.
In that offseason, the defensive line came together with their coaches and knew that something needed to change. That offseason, the D-line made a pact. A pact that on every play, it was all or nothing and no team would be able to prevent a constant barrage of blitzes and attacks from every angle.
In the 2013 season, the defense recorded an astonishing 35 sacks and 87 tackles for a loss. That season, the "rushmen" were born. The battle cry of the defensive line became a staple of what offenses were to expect when facing the Eagles as well as what was expected out of every defensive player on the roster, including then-freshman DT Truman Gutapfel.
Making the jump from the corn fields of Ohio to one of the largest sports cities in the country, Gutapfel never experienced the struggles of 2012 but felt the aftermath of it and was born into the new mentality of the unit.
Facing off against powerhouse Florida State, after an injury to Mehdi Abdesmad, Gutapfel got his first taste of collegiate football.
"Our guys were tired and it was the end of the game so I got thrown in. I remember that Florida State's O-line had I think five draft picks. I think that whole O-line got drafted and I was a 275 pound freshman who had no idea what was going on and everything was moving so fast," Gutapfel said.
With jitters of playing in his first game and staring at the intimidating offensive line, Gutapfel knew what was expected of him. In his first play, he recorded a tackle for a loss.
"It was incredible. It was a Friday night game and the place was packed. It was a good experience."
Fast forward to this season, Truman Gutapfel is now a senior and the captain of the "rushmen", and has been credited with 56 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss going into his final season. He has also been added to the Senior Bowl Watch List which would put him in a game with the nation's best seniors if he is selected.
Gutapfel has become a name that is circled on every opponents scouting list and while he has earned that right, Gutapfel credits many different players and coaches in pushing him to where he is now.
Gutapfel went on to say that as a freshman, Connor Wujciak was there to help him the most.
"He was my nose guard and I played next to him for two years as a sophomore and junior, and we held that interior down pretty well. As a freshman, he took me under his wing and he knew that I was going to be the guy playing next to him. He was a good role model and mentor, especially on the field."
Along with Wujciak, Gutapfel mentioned that former defensive line coach Ben Albert helped him a lot as well. The former defensive line coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars went above and beyond to mold the future of the defense and Gutapfel.
"Coach Albert was great. He always stressed using our hands and using them to bunch the blocker, and using that to be able to shed the blocker. In high school, you kind of just rip around the offense, but in college it's important to learn to use your hands and coach did a great job teaching me that."
Truman Gutapfel lives, sleeps and breaths football and while he may be a giant threat on the field, he is just as hard working as a student. He has earned the honors of ACC All-Academic Team and the Athletic Director's Award for Academic Achievement during his time at Boston College.
While living in the big city now, Gutapfel remains a humble, small town boy from the corn fields of Ohio that has made his mark as a member of the Boston College community.
As the defensive line breaks down the practice and what needs to be worked on, together, the players raise their hands in the middle of the circle and as one, break the circle with one word: "Rushmen."
It is no secret that the Boston College defensive line has terrorized offenses with their relentless attack, constant pressure and only caring about getting the job done no matter what. What many people don't realize is that this relentless attack, this "rushmen" mentality, was not always how the defense portrayed itself.
To fully understand the origin of the "rushmen", we have to go back to 2012. In the 2012 season, Boston College finished 2-10 and the defense struggled to put pressure on any offensive line or quarterback. In the 12 games that year, the defense managed to only record six sacks.
In that offseason, the defensive line came together with their coaches and knew that something needed to change. That offseason, the D-line made a pact. A pact that on every play, it was all or nothing and no team would be able to prevent a constant barrage of blitzes and attacks from every angle.
In the 2013 season, the defense recorded an astonishing 35 sacks and 87 tackles for a loss. That season, the "rushmen" were born. The battle cry of the defensive line became a staple of what offenses were to expect when facing the Eagles as well as what was expected out of every defensive player on the roster, including then-freshman DT Truman Gutapfel.
Making the jump from the corn fields of Ohio to one of the largest sports cities in the country, Gutapfel never experienced the struggles of 2012 but felt the aftermath of it and was born into the new mentality of the unit.
Facing off against powerhouse Florida State, after an injury to Mehdi Abdesmad, Gutapfel got his first taste of collegiate football.
"Our guys were tired and it was the end of the game so I got thrown in. I remember that Florida State's O-line had I think five draft picks. I think that whole O-line got drafted and I was a 275 pound freshman who had no idea what was going on and everything was moving so fast," Gutapfel said.
With jitters of playing in his first game and staring at the intimidating offensive line, Gutapfel knew what was expected of him. In his first play, he recorded a tackle for a loss.
"It was incredible. It was a Friday night game and the place was packed. It was a good experience."
Fast forward to this season, Truman Gutapfel is now a senior and the captain of the "rushmen", and has been credited with 56 tackles, including 12 tackles for a loss going into his final season. He has also been added to the Senior Bowl Watch List which would put him in a game with the nation's best seniors if he is selected.
Gutapfel has become a name that is circled on every opponents scouting list and while he has earned that right, Gutapfel credits many different players and coaches in pushing him to where he is now.
Gutapfel went on to say that as a freshman, Connor Wujciak was there to help him the most.
"He was my nose guard and I played next to him for two years as a sophomore and junior, and we held that interior down pretty well. As a freshman, he took me under his wing and he knew that I was going to be the guy playing next to him. He was a good role model and mentor, especially on the field."
Along with Wujciak, Gutapfel mentioned that former defensive line coach Ben Albert helped him a lot as well. The former defensive line coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars went above and beyond to mold the future of the defense and Gutapfel.
"Coach Albert was great. He always stressed using our hands and using them to bunch the blocker, and using that to be able to shed the blocker. In high school, you kind of just rip around the offense, but in college it's important to learn to use your hands and coach did a great job teaching me that."
Truman Gutapfel lives, sleeps and breaths football and while he may be a giant threat on the field, he is just as hard working as a student. He has earned the honors of ACC All-Academic Team and the Athletic Director's Award for Academic Achievement during his time at Boston College.
While living in the big city now, Gutapfel remains a humble, small town boy from the corn fields of Ohio that has made his mark as a member of the Boston College community.
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