Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com AUGUST 2019 41 BY EJ HOLLAND It didn't take Gabriel Rubio very long to make a decision. Almost im- mediately after picking up an offer from Notre Dame in late May, the 2021 St. Peters (Mo.) Lutheran of St. Charles defensive lineman gave the Irish a silent commitment. Rubio would keep his verbal pledge a secret until June 15, the day of Notre Dame's on-campus Lineman Chal- lenge. It was during the event that Ru- bio publicly announced his intentions to play for the Fighting Irish. For Rubio, his commitment to Notre Dame was a dream come true. It was exactly where he wanted to be. "When I first visited during my sophomore year, I was just really im- pressed with the way they ran things and the way they taught their tech- niques," Rubio said. "I thought to myself, 'This is a great place. I won- der what other places can compare to this.' After seeing some others, I believe that Notre Dame is the best out there. "It feels the most like home. The coaches really care about their play- ers. That's why I'm committing. Notre Dame is just a great program on the field and academically." Rivals lists Rubio as a four-star tal- ent, the No. 2 player in Missouri, the No. 8 defensive tackle and No. 81 overall prospect in the nation. He compiled 44 total stops, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, four forced fum- bles, one fumble recovery and two blocked extra points as a sophomore. Rubio picked Notre Dame over offers from Georgia, LSU, Okla- homa, Ohio State, Michigan State, Nebraska, Texas A&M and several other major programs. Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston played a big role in winning him over, building a strong relation- ship with the talented underclass- man over the last year. "Coach Elston is one of those great combo guys," Rubio said. "He's very strict on the football field. Off the football field, he likes to unwind and have fun all the time — maybe most of the time [laughs]. Whenever he needs to get stuff done, he gets it done immediately and fast. I like that about him. "I like the passion that he has for the game of football. Me and him just had an automatic connection after we worked together." At 6-5 and 280 pounds, Rubio is a big, athletic specimen in the trenches. His father, Angel, played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Cincin- nati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals. Needless to say, he has strong blood- lines and oozes potential. Notre Dame likes Rubio as a three- technique tackle with the versatility to move around the defensive line. His head coach, Arlen Harris, be- lieves he can be a dominant force in the trenches in South Bend. "He's very smart and technically sound," Harris said. "His skill set is pretty high because of the things that he's learned from his dad and train- ing. He's knowledgeable on how to use those weapons. "When it comes time to execute, a lot of times, kids don't know how to respond because he's a level up." Harris, who played running back in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions, added that Ru- bio's upside is through the roof. "I can't even gauge it," Harris said. "He's young in his class [Rubio turned 16 on July 9]. He's still grow- ing mentally and physically. He has a great motor. "I like that he's not content. His work ethic is going to take him a lot further than most." While making an impact on the field is at the top of mind, Rubio is also excited about his academic ca- reer. Notre Dame offers an elite level education, which was extremely ap- pealing to Rubio. "That factored in quite a bit," Ru- bio said. "I'm not going to just go to college to play football. I'm also go- ing to get a degree and have a good job afterwards. "It's a great thing to go to one of the top academic schools. It helped me narrow things down quite a bit." Rubio can't wait to get to Notre Dame down the line and has high ex- pectations for the team. When asked where he thought Notre Dame would be by the time he's an upperclassman for the Irish, Rubio had this to say. "If not No. 1 then in the top five," Rubio stated. "That's the plan. We want to win a national champion- ship. That's what I want for myself and for the team. "That's what we want to get within the next five years." ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths Gabriel Rubio won't turn 18 until the July right before he enrolls at Notre Dame … Massive young defender that already checks in at 6-5 and 280 pounds … Plays with a non-stop motor; competes from snap to whistle on film, and showed the same willingness to leave it all on the field this summer at the Irish Invasion camp on Notre Dame's campus … Long arms and exceptional punch for his age, and he uses both to drive blockers into the backfield … Gets off the line quickly, showing the ability to pen- etrate at the snap or chase down ball carriers from behind. Areas For Improvement Will have to work on making sure his weight stays in a good place the next two years … Like all young players he'll need to continue adding more weight room strength … Must improve his pass-rushing repertoire, and his hand technique must also continue to be enhanced. — Bryan Driskell COMMITMENT PROFILE GABRIEL RUBIO Fighting Irish Land One Of The Top 2021 Defensive Tackles Rivals rates Rubio as a four-star recruit, the No. 2 prospect in Missouri, and the No. 8 defensive tackle and No. 81 overall player in the nation. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM