Illinois Football: Illini extend offer to 2021 DT Gabriel Rubio

The class of 2021 is still a little ways away but the Illinois football team is recruiting it hard.

Illinois has been on an offer spree lately. They are pinpointing what type of players they want for the future of the program and are going after those recruits. Developing a strong base now will only help build those relationships and bring commitments down the road. That is what I am hoping with Gabriel Rubio.

Rubio is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive tackle from Lutheran High School in Saint Peters, Missouri. He isn’t rated or ranked right now because 247Sports hasn’t put together all of their rankings for 2021, but he looks to be a target for a variety of big programs. That makes me think he will likely end up somewhere in the top 800.

Illinois was the fourth offer for Rubio. His other offers include Kentucky, Louisville and Nebraska right now. Of course, this number will increase as well. He is way too good to only have four offers. I would assume Rubio picks up a lot of teams here in the next few months.

Rubio is the real deal at defensive tackle. This kid still has a few years left in high school, but he is going to end up being really good at the next level. The first thing that stands out to me about his game is his first move off the ball. He is able to get out of his stance and get past the offensive lineman with moves he has learned in high school. That is extremely impressive.

I also like Rubio’s upper body strength as well. He has the ability to move blockers out of his way to get to the quarterback or ball carrier. That is a great asset to have heading to the college ranks.

There aren’t a ton of polished players coming out of high school. Most just use their raw physical gifts to get their way on the football field. That isn’t the case with Rubio, though. While he has physical gifts, he also has the ability to learn and develop his skills.

I hope Illinois can get in on Rubio’s recruitment. They have offered him a scholarship early on in the process so, hopefully, that pays off down the road. I want him in the Orange and Blue.