Notre Dame Football: What 2021 commitment Gabriel Rubio brings to the table

On Saturday, Notre Dame football added a third commitment to the class of 2021 in Gabriel Rubio, a defensive tackle out of Missouri.

The Irish just keep building top talent along the defensive line. Gabriel Rubio, a 2021 defensive tackle out of Missouri, committed to Notre Dame over the weekend during the lineman camp. Rubio was offered in May, but has already been a visitor on campus in the past and had been waiting to finally get that offer.

He got that offer.

With his visit to South Bend being this weekend, Rubio wasted no time in pulling the trigger and joining the 2021 recruiting class. The Notre Dame offer seemed to always be the one he wanted and there was no reason for him to wait any longer when he knew South Bend is where he wanted to play college football.

At the moment, Rubio holds 20 offers from the likes of Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and many more top programs. I don’t see his offers slowing down regardless of how solid he is to the Irish either.

What will Rubio bring to South Bend?

The 6’6,” 290-pound defensive tackle will bring power and length in the interior of the defense. He’s already filled out for being a 2021 prospect and moves very well for his size. What’s impressive is his technique for being so young. He’s head and shoulders better than almost everyone he’s goes up against in terms of knowledge of his game and physical presence.

Generally, what many would tend to worry about when thinking of a defensive tackle is being overly big in terms on height, as getting low to get the advantage for leverage is key. Even at 6’6,” Rubio has great bend and is quick enough to freeze his opponent long enough to easily win reps. The benefit of being that big, though, is the ability to bring double teams his way, which will only benefit the entire defensive line.

This kid has all the traits you want in an interior lineman, whether it’s a constant motor or the elite technique that will win him almost every rep. He’s going to be a dominate force for years to come. What’s really scary to think about is he still has two more years in high school to build on his technique and continue getting quicker and stronger. What a huge pick up for defensive line coach Mike Elston and the Irish staff.

With his commitment this weekend, the 2021 class now has 3 commits, with Rubio joining elite quarterback Tyler Buchner and offensive lineman Greg Crippen. To start the class off with arguably the three most important position groups in football, it’s massive for the momentum of what else will be coming in the 2021 class. I can’t say enough about how well the staff is recruiting the past several years. And Irish fans, stay patient; it will pay off in the end. Notre Dame is very close to the ultimate goal we all want. I fully believe that.