SAN MARCOS, Texas — Following recent touchdown-assisting cameos as an H-back, starting defensive end
Caleb Spurlin enjoyed reviewing film of the blocks he produced and the paths he cleared.
It's natural for an in-the-trenches defender to seek out contact, as Spurlin has done on two sacks already this season. Going back to his high school days, though, he doesn't mind finding open spaces and scoring.
A former walk-on playing in his 46th college game and wearing No. 97, Spurlin hauled in a 1-yard touchdown pass Saturday on his first career offensive touch. The play pushed the Mountaineers to a 21-10 lead in a 38-17 victory at Texas State.
"I've always messed with (Coach) Cardwell, Clark and Watts since I got here about getting me one, but we never really put one in until a couple weeks ago," said Spurlin, referring to offensive line coach
Nic Cardwell, head coach
Shawn Clark and tight ends coach
Justin Watts. "I'm lucky to have that happen."
Spurlin, a multi-sport, multi-position standout while leading Galax to a Group 1A state football title in Virginia, has found a home on App State's defensive line but seen his role expand to offensive duties this season. Now he's one of only three FBS players — all from the Sun Belt — with at least one sack and one receiving touchdown this season.
At Galax, he played all over the field and was an all-state pick as both a linebacker and tight end. He made 46 catches for 792 yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior year.
He joined App State's program as a prospective fullback, recorded his first career sack during a blowout win against Savannah State as a redshirt freshman and received a scholarship following a 2018 regular-season finale that decided the Sun Belt's East Division champion. That day, Spurlin recovered a fumble that he also forced on a fourth-down, fake-punt completion against Troy, ripping the ball away before the receiver went to the ground near midfield and helping App State move ahead 14-0 in a 21-10 win.
After years of making a defensive impact, he got live-game opportunities in the offensive backfield this season with a short-handed team taking on Campbell in late September. Spurlin blocked during a short touchdown run that day and did the same last weekend at ULM, leading to more intrigue about the possibility of him running the ball or catching a pass.
The opportunity arrived Saturday, and App State didn't waste any time.
On its first play near the goal line, with first down at the Texas State 1, Spurlin entered the offensive lineup and leaked out to an open spot in the right flat. He twisted his body enough to secure possession of the throw while on the move and immediately broke the plane.
"Coach Clark had messed with me and said it would be the first thing we'd go to on the goal line," Spurlin recalled, "so I said, 'All right.' I was ready for it. On a pass play, you're not the only option, so I didn't know if I'd get it or not, but I'm glad I was though.
"It was cool feeling that took me back to high school. It was fun."
While the touchdown didn't feel that unusual to Spurlin, it undoubtedly excited his teammates and coaches, as well as fans who have followed his career.
"I always try to give him one touchdown a week, so on Wednesday we gave the old Spider 2 Y Banana to Spurlin," Clark said, noting the play made famous by NFL coach Jon Gruden.
"I was tickled to death," Clark added. "
Caleb Spurlin is what this program is about."
