photo by: Sarah Buchanan/Special to the Journal-World

Free State senior Noah Rupp takes down Manhattan's JJ Dunnigan on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Manhattan.

When Free State safety Noah Rupp visited the University of Nebraska – Kearney, the Division II football program felt like home, which was everything he was looking for.

While Rupp spent the summer visiting and talking to several colleges, the connection he built with the UNK staff was above the rest.

“They talked with me so much more, and when I went down for a visit, I loved it down there,” Rupp said. “I had a couple more visits planned, but I decided to go ahead and commit.”

Growing up, Rupp was a dual athlete. While he enjoyed basketball and football, football brought more joy, and when it came down to deciding which area to pursue heavily, it was the choice he made. A couple years later, that decision helped him reach the next level of the game.

“Junior year is when I quit basketball, and it really made me lock in and made me realize that I really wanted to go play college football,” Rupp said.

A program with a good culture was at the top of Rupp’s wishlist. From what he saw on his visit to UNK, Rupp felt that the Lopers would be a team with a strong culture.

Rupp concluded his high school career with the Firebirds as a part of a formidable defense. He had 70 tackles, four pass breakups, two sacks, and an interception as the team’s free safety. Rupp’s time at Free State was filled with memories as a member of the defense. Practices were always one of Rupp’s favorite things about the team.

Rupp may have suited up with the Firebirds for the last time, but it won’t be the last time playing with some of his Free State teammates. At UNK, Rupp will join Free State wide receiver Landon Leipold.

“It’s going to be a lot more comfortable… a lot easier to make friends,” Rupp said of knowing a teammate there. “Landon already knows a lot of the coaches and a lot of the players there, so that can help me make connections with people.”

For the final months of high school, Rupp is working with a personal trainer to develop his strength in preparation for playing at the college level. He hopes to contribute to more strong defenses while at UNK and believes that he can contribute in multiple ways.

“I feel like I can bring everything,” Rupp said. “I feel like I can cover — I love tackling in open space.”

UNK went 5-6 in the 2024 season, its second year under coach Ryan Held. The Lopers improved from a 3-8 record in Held’s first season with the team. Defensively, the Lopers finished third in the Mid-America Athletic Conference in defensive scoring with 21.5 points allowed per game. The team allowed the second-fewest run defense in the conference, yet the Lopers allowed the fourth-most pass yards per game in the 10-team conference.