| No. 97 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive tackle |
| Class |  |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 9, 2003 |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 321 lb (146 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Lutheran St. Charles (St. Peters, Missouri) |
| College |
|
Gabriel Francis Rubio (born July 9, 2003) is an American college football defensive tackle for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Rubio grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and attended Lutheran High School of St. Charles County, where he emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the Midwest. He was rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, ranking as high as the No. 9 defensive tackle nationally and the No. 2 overall player in Missouri. [1] He recorded 117 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks as a junior, and earned Second Team All-Missouri honors from MaxPreps in 2019. [1] He committed to play college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. [2]
Rubio made his collegiate debut in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma State, recording one tackle. [1]
Rubio appeared as a reserve defensive lineman and goal-line specialist, finishing the season with 17 tackles and 4 tackles for loss. He recorded a career-best seven tackles against Stanford. [3]
Rubio played in nine games and totaled 11 tackles. He recorded a pass breakup against USC that resulted in an interception, and forced a late fumble at Clemson. [4]
Rubio missed the first five games of the season after fracturing his foot on the first day of preseason camp. [5] He recorded 24 tackles, including 12 solo, and registered his first career sack at USC. [1] After the starting defensive tackle, Rylie Mills, tore his ACL, Rubio took over for the final three games, including the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl, and National Championship. [6]
Rubio was selected to the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year Watch List. [7] After playing in six games, including five starts, he injured his left elbow, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. [8]
Rubio's father Angel was a three-time All-American as a defensive end at Southeast Missouri State. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1998 and played two seasons in the NFL. [9] [10]
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