Notre Dame Signs DT Gabriel Rubio
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have signed defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio
GABRIEL RUBIO PROFILE
Hometown: St. Peter's, Mo.
High School: Lutheran
Height: 6-5
Weight: 290
IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber player)
Upside Grade: 5.0
Offers: Notre Dame, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Louisville, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan State, Minnesota, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas
Recruited By: Mike Elston
SI99 Rank: No. 49 overall
Rivals: 4-star - No. 109 overall
247Sports: 4-star - No. 152 overall
ESPN: 4-star - No. 162 overall
Composite: 4-star - No. 117 overall
FILM ANALYSIS
Rubio is a high-upside player that has an impressive combination of size and power. The Missouri star has tremendously powerful hands, and his technique advanced in his final season. To top that off, he plays with a tremendous motor and great passion for the game. He shows a strong punch and powerful lower body, but he’s far from reaching his max in this department. He has above-average arm length, but his combination of height, length and leverage make this a strong part of his game.
The 6-5, 290-pound defensive tackle shows good vertical quickness off the ball, which allows him to be an impact playmaker at the prep level. He is hard to stay blocked due to his combination of physical tools and his block destruction technique. Rubio has good short-area quickness and closing speed, traits that allow him to dominate up the middle of the defense.
One of the first things that stands out about Rubio - who has been measured anywhere from 6-5 to 6-5 1/2 - is that he plays the game with impressive leverage. That can be difficult for tall players, especially when they are young, but Rubio thrives in that department. He plays against smaller competition, and in some ways that might be a concern, but it helps him from a technical standpoint because he has to focus so much on staying low.
Rubio could play either inside defensive line position, but he could be a special player at nose tackle, where he could add a disruptive quality to the position the Irish haven't had since Jerry Tillery manned it back in 2017.
NOTRE DAME FIT
I love Rubio's film, and he's an even better young man. He has the kind of size/power combination that could allow him to make an immediate impact at Notre Dame. I personally think he's better suited for nose guard, where he could be a true stud. Notre Dame hasn't gotten much pass rush production from the nose in recent seasons, and Rubio could be a big-time playmaker at nose.
Of course, he could also be a standout at defensive tackle, and that versatility is a big part of what makes him such a coveted prospect. He's not only big, physical and capable of shutting down the run, he is also athletic and technically advanced enough to make plays in the backfield and to rush the quarterback.
Rubio has big-time potential up the middle for the Irish.
JOHN GARCIA, SI ALL-AMERICAN ON RUBIO
"A multi-alignment player up front, Rubio is most at home pushing from the interior with great size, length, polish and a high motor to boot. He uses his hands violently in diverse ways to make plays, making him a movable piece depending on down and distance. The versatility will likely help him see the field sooner rather than later in South Bend. Rubio can stunt and play outside as a pass rusher with success while possessing the wherewithal to motor down and redirect as needed versus the run or pass within his responsibility. While not the twitchiest prospect, pushing the pocket with a deep set of moves including the power/bull rush, swipe, club-and-rip and swim technique at his size works well in any defensive front."
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