LINCOLN — Standing next to the other bulky giants who make up the Husker offensive line, Nebraska's backup center never passes the eyeball test.
But those who judge the skill level of Mike Caputo based solely on his appearance are making a mistake.
He certainly looks out of place up front, dwarfed in height and body mass by the teammates who fit college football's physique prototype for top-of-the-line blockers.
The team roster lists Caputo at 6-foot-1, but even that measurement is overly generous. Caputo has to raise his chin skyward when he's making eye contact with most of his offensive line teammates, especially guys like 6-foot-7 tackle Marcel Jones, whose puffy black hair made him even more monstrous last year.
But Caputo, a former Millard North standout, is one lineup shuffle away from snapping footballs with the first-team offensive unit, enough evidence to keep the sophomore from questioning whether he can make it at this level.
“When I came here my goal was to play,” Caputo said. “I'm just happy I have the opportunity to do that.”
Caputo won't make excuses. He refuses to acknowledge that his body structure limits him as an offensive lineman.
Actually, Caputo says, he has the advantage over defenders, even if they're big-bodied beasts with a 50-pound weight advantage.
He, too, has a stocky build, packing 275 pounds into his smaller frame. When asked this summer to name the team's strongest athlete, strength coach James Dobson mentioned Caputo second, right after Ndamukong Suh.
So when Caputo needs to create running lanes by pushing defensive linemen off the ball, he can get low — amazingly low — and overpower his opponents.
“For a center, leverage is a big key factor,” Caputo said. “In the run game, you can get under people, and it helps a lot.”
And when he's pass blocking, Caputo says it's all about technique, not size.
“Longer arms would help a little bit, but I don't think it's as much as people make it up to be,” he said.
Caputo was obviously doing the right things at his position last spring.
Four months ago, the coaches had enough confidence in Caputo to move veteran Jacob Hickman from center to guard. Caputo stepped in with the first team, making the pre-snap calls and post-snap blocks like he'd been there all year.
For now, Hickman's the starting center and Caputo is once again relegated to a backup role, but that spring experiment could become a legitimate option if development stalls at the right guard position.
At the very least, Caputo should end up playing more this season, according to junior guard Keith Williams. Caputo's been too impressive not to see the field, Williams said.
“I always call Caputo the bulldog,” Williams said. “He might be small, but he plays with power, leverage. ... Once you see him play, and you see the passion he has, it's unbelievable.”
Caputo's not necessarily trying to be extra tenacious on the field. He's not really playing to prove people wrong.
He walked on at Nebraska despite scholarship offers at the Division I-AA and Division II levels. He still isn't on scholarship.
But Caputo isn't complaining. He's working.
“You try to just do your best — try to get bigger, faster, stronger, smarter,” he said. “It's the same old stuff. Push it and get as good as I can.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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