Tyler Rapp names Air Force
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The Woodlands won an undefeated district championship in 2013 and made it to the third round of the playoffs for the second time in three years, but their run ended with a brutal 56-21 setback against Allen. The Highlanders ended with a record of 10-3 and much of their offensive success on the ground was behind All-District center Tyler Rapp.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 280 pound Rapp ended his high school career as a three year varsity starter, two-time All-District player, and was honored as one of 25 Houston area football scholar-athlete finalists by The Touchdown Club of Houston.
Rapp was fortunate to play for his dad, Jim Rapp, offensive coordinator and offensive line coach under Head Coach Mark Schmid.
The 2013 season marked Jim Rapp's 23rd season with the Highlanders. He has coached the offensive line for the last 18 years and this was his ninth season as the offensive coordinator.
Rapp has seen over 30 linemen enter the college ranks with Jonathan Huckins (Colorado), Sam Kronshage (Colorado), Chad Lindsay (Alabama) and Adam Sibal (Colorado School of Mines) currently playing. Now he will be able to add his son to that growing list.
The younger Rapp recently chose Air Force as his college football home over nearby Houston and HBU.
"Air Force was my favorite all along. They are going to leave me at center. They have a great program, and of course the Military aspect was intriguing for me. When I graduate I am pretty much guaranteed a job and my plans are to major in business," young Rapp tells TheOldCoach.com.
Rapp was considered a disciplined player who always went the extra mile with his work ethic and leadership abilities. Head Coach Mark Schmid had this praise for Rapp.
"Tyler is a natural leader and his leadership ability and the respect he has amongst his peers was important for us, our success and that offensive line group," Schmid said.
When asked how he was able to have success on the field Rapp had this to say.
"First of all, I love the weight room and I believe that is a core to my success. You have to be willing to put in the extra work necessary after everyone else has gone home. I stayed in that weight room for the last three years every day I could and did rep after rep. I had a dream and goal and was not going to let it slip away," said Rapp.
"I hit the books hard. I wanted good grades as much as to be respected as a good football player. You don't get into Air Force without good grades and of course you have to study film as well. The last two years of my life I watched film at least three times a week. I watched our games and got my hands on as many O-Line drill tapes that I could. I've tried to be a student of the game," Rapp continued.
"We had a tight group on the O-Line at The Woodlands. We called ourselves, "The Wall", having a tight committed group was very important to us and we feel allowed our team to be successful," said Rapp.
Rapp attended camps throughout his high school career and is an award winning alumni from The Old Coach Assembly Line Camp.
"I believe that camps are valuable. I went to mostly college ran camps, except The Old Coach Camp. I wanted to catch the eye of college coaches, but really wanted to attend The Old Coach Assembly Line Camp because of all the former DI and NFL guys that had come through it. My dad a coach told me that you guys taught technique and that those techniques would benefit me. I learned a lot at your camp. I love the way you are always available to watch film or give advice after the camp is over as well," Rapp said.
The veteran coach and dad, Jim Rapp, had some comments about his son's camp attendance.
"Coach Tony Johnson (Camp Director) and The Old Coach Camp staff enforced in our kids what we believe in at the Woodlands. Coach Johnson and the staff are great technicians. I loved the fundamentals taught at The Old Coach Camp," said Coach Rapp.
The Woodlands Kevin Butts, another TOC Assembly Line alum is committed to HBU.
"The Old Coach Assembly Line Camps are about getting kids exposed, working with parents on recruiting and we focus on technique and muscle memory. We teach the kids all the little things that need to be taught. This is not a combine. This year it will be enhanced and streamlined for the athletes to gain additional reps. It is exciting to see young men like Tyler Rapp and Kevin Butts attend our camps, watch what they do on the football field and then see them achieve their dreams to play college football," Tony Johnson said.
Grand Prairie will be the first location for 2014 The Old Coach Linemen Showcase Camps. Athletes can register for The Old Coach Line Showcase Camps by going to this link:
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