DAYTON, Ohio — Gavin Cupp smiled and posed for pictures, dapped up his teammates and gave out some hugs after suiting up for one final high school game, but the Ohio State signee was far from pleased Saturday following the OHSFCA North-South Classic even if, on the surface, it didn't look that way.
“Felt good, man, but I really know what I need to improve on now,” Cupp said after the game. “That was not a great performance so I know what I need to work on.”
When reminded it was just an all-star game, Cupp shook of that notion rather quickly.
“I just know what I need to work on,” he said. “If anything, this is a real motivation factor for me.”
Fair enough. The man was not pleased.
Cupp, one of the Buckeyes’ five offensive linemen inked in the 2016 recruiting class, wants to prove himself no matter the setting. This situation was no different.
And perhaps that’s because almost the entirety of Cupp’s recruitment required him to prove himself. After the much-discussed situation with Michigan State occurred — Cupp had his scholarship offer from the Spartans pulled after attending a camp at Ohio State even though he was committed to the Spartans; that’s a no-no for Mark Dantonio recruits — he was left wondering what would come next. He felt he was good enough to play Big Ten football, but would again have to prove it.
He did just that at the Buckeyes’ Friday Night Lights camp and earned a scholarship offer from Ohio State a few days later. Cupp quickly accepted. Crisis averted.
This wasn't a handout offer from the Buckeyes, though. Cupp had to earn it.
“He was committed somewhere else in the Big Ten and he knew if he came to our camp something might happen,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said of Cupp back on National Signing Day. “I don’t know the whole story, but I don’t think he was part of their class anymore. I went down and stood and watched him because I knew what was going on.
“I gave that an extra look because that’s tough. But we didn’t give it to him because we felt sorry for him. He earned it.”
So it’s no surprise Cupp feels he must uphold his end of the bargain now and that’s likely a large reason why he wasn’t necessarily pleased with his performance in a meaningless high school all-star game.
Since signing with the Buckeyes in February, Cupp has just been working in the weight room to get stronger while also learning the offensive playbook. Ohio State put him on a weight program — like it does with all incoming freshmen — and the three-star prospect and 14th-rated player in the state of Ohio has been enjoying the process has he counts down the days until he enrolls in early June.
“It’s been going great,” Cupp said. “I’ve been working my tail off in the weight room.”
Cupp has also been talking frequently with new offensive line coach Greg Studrawa, who replaced Ed Warinner following the 2015 season as Warinner moved over to coach the tight ends while remaining Ohio State’s offensive coordinator.
It’s all part of developing before Cupp arrives with the rest of the Buckeyes’ 2016 class in June.
“I’m just getting down the playbook and knowing the offensive plays. Just be ready, be as ready as you can,” Cupp said. “When you make a transition you’ve gotta be ready no matter where you’re going.
“How hard you have to work, it’s all a part of it so you just have to be as ready as you can.”
