Student Profile

Rick Drushal
Lakeville, Ohio
Class: 2007
Major: Computer Science/Mathematics

Rick Drushal has extended his family’s legacy at The College of Wooster, doing so as an outstanding student and an outstanding athlete, but deciding to go to the same school where his grandfather, J. Garber Drushal, served as president (1967-77) and both parents are alums, Rich and Josie Drushal, may not have been as obvious of a decision as it seems on the surface.

“(I’d) been around the campus my whole life, so I had no desire to go there,” reflected Drushal, who grew up in Lakeville, Ohio, about his college search.

Seeking an academic fit as well as a place where he could play football, Drushal visited four Ivy League schools (Dartmouth College, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Yale University), applying to Dartmouth, and considered some other options, but in the end, felt that the small liberal arts school in his own backyard was better suited for him than he initially realized.

“I kept it in the back of my mind … and when I reverted back to looking at the (NCAA) Div. III level, the more I looked at Wooster, the better it seemed to me.”

Four years later, the Fighting Scot football coaching staff is sure thankful Drushal decided to stay home. He was one of the cornerstones of a 27-member senior class that just went out as one of the most successful in program history, tying a team record for the winningest four-year stretch with 32 victories (32-10) from 2003-06.

Drushal was part of every one of those wins. In fact, he started a school-record 42 games, something he never envisioned, and he did so all at the key left tackle position, protecting the blindside of Wooster’s right-handed quarterbacks.

“I came in from a Wing-T offense in high school, so my head was just swimming to try to pick up the new offense. I didn’t expect to play that first season because of the adjustment, and then the next thing I know, after a week in camp, they put me with the first team. I figured it was just to experiment and would only last for a day.”

The Wooster coaches, however, knew they had something special on their hands as soon as the 6-4, 295-pound offensive lineman stepped on the practice field in August of 2003.

“Rick earned the starting left tackle position the day he walked on campus,” stated Scot head coach Mike Schmitz. “He was clearly the best as a freshman, and he got better as he went.”

Drushal immediately gained the respect from the league’s other coaches as well, as they voted him second-team All-North Coast Athletic Conference as a freshman, and he started gaining national acclaim in 2004 after playing an integral role in leading Wooster to its best season ever – a perfect 10-0 regular season, the school’s first outright conference championship (7-0) since 1934, and first berth into the NCAA Div. III playoffs.

Clearing the way for the explosive trio of All-American tailback Tony Sutton (2240 rushing yards, 31 TDs), quarterback Justin Schafer (1877 passing yards, 329 rushing yards, 24 total TDs), and wideout Richie McNally (1,060 receiving yards, 11 TDs) to operate, Drushal helped the offense set dozens of school records en route to first-team All-NCAC and second-team All-American (Football Gazette) honors.

While it’s hard to quantify an offensive lineman’s impact in statistics (Drushal did lead the team in knockdown blocks as a sophomore, junior, and senior), Schmitz and many others recognized his impact.

“He had a lot to do with it, and I think, Tony would tell you that, too,” said the Scots’ seventh-year head coach. “He was just a dominant performer all four years, anchoring the left side.”

With Sutton gone and several other key players having graduated, the team struggled a bit Drushal’s junior season, but he continued to excel, receiving honorable mention on the D3football.com All-America Team after anchoring an inexperienced unit.

With his reputation clearly established, coupled with the team’s successful 8-2 season, he really started collecting the hardware this past fall. Drushal was first-team all-conference for the third year in a row, one of 25 members named to the American Football Coaches’ Association Div. III All-America Team, and one of just 18 Div. III players on the Associated Press Little All-America Team, which recognizes the top small-college players from NCAA Div. II and NAIA as well.

While Drushal collected honor after honor for his football skills, another award came to fruition that he cherishes most. Drushal, who also is a seven-time All-NCAC thrower for the track team, vice-president of Wooster’s math club, member of the student athletic advisory council, and volunteer with the Westminster peacemaking project team, all while double majoring in mathematics and computer science, was voted to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team®.

“To me, I’ve had some success with the awards,” explained the modest Drushal. “But, the Academic All-American®, to get that one was really special to me because that’s what’s really being a Div. III student-athlete is all about.”

With those kind of accolades, Drushal will certainly have a number of options upon graduation in May, and one may still be on the gridiron.

“If the offer is out there, it’s something I’d definitely take a look at, but I would term it as a pleasant surprise,” he responded in regards to playing professional football. “(Most likely), I’d be looking to get a job after college in the computer science field or applied mathematics. I don’t have a whole lot of definite plans right now, maybe in the job market for a year or two, followed by further education.”