NEW ORLEANS – Gabriel Rubio withdrew from the Notre Dame football program in the spring to address a personal matter.

Now it’s just one more day until the senior defensive tackle steps into the spotlight when Notre Dame (12-1) faces Georgia (11-2) in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff in the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans (8/8). :1). 45 p.m. EST). (UPDATE: The game has been postponed until Thursday.) Rubio will make his first career start in the biggest game of his career to date.

A season-ending knee injury to starter Rylie Mills led to Rubio advancing to the first round of the playoffs following a 27-17 victory over Indiana on December 20. Rubio, who played 29 defensive snaps against IU, will have to prepare for an increased workload against the Bulldogs.

“I put a lot of time and effort into my preparation,” Rubio said. “My attitude is that this situation simply offers a great opportunity. Unfortunately it had to come at Rylie’s expense, and I’m really looking forward to it.” The guy. He is a leader for the entire D-line. I know he is there for us.

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A spokesman for Notre Dame confirmed this At ND Sports that Mills did not travel with the team and is not expected to be at Thursday’s game. Mills, one of five Notre Dame defensive backs to start the first 13 games of the season, is Notre Dame’s leader in sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (8.5) this season. That’s more than Rubio scored in four seasons with the Irish.

Rubio, who missed three games last season due to a knee injury, missed the first five games of this season due to a metatarsal fracture in his left foot. Fortunately, he is now available when his team needs him most.

“It was a tough fight, but it’s a worthwhile fight,” Rubio said. “The spring was unfortunate. The summer was unfortunate as I went to fall camp with a broken foot. I’m not the type of person who just gives up as soon as the need arises.

Although Rubio has been playing since the Stanford game on October 12th, it wasn’t until the week of the Army game on November 23rd that Rubio really started to feel good. The following week against USC, Rubio recorded his first career sack.

“As the weeks go by, I feel better and better,” Rubio said. “I say it every week: This week is by far the best week.”

Rubio, who has played in 30 games in his Notre Dame career, still relies on Mills and starting nose tackle Howard Cross III for pointers and advice.

“He helped me learn the little nuances of defense, like: Like, tiny technical things while playing the three-technique that other players might not know,” Rubio said of Mills. “Having this experience was very important.”

Rubio will start alongside Cross, who has played 63 Notre Dame games in six seasons. Cross himself has struggled with an ankle injury this season that limited him to 10 games. Cross played two more games than Rubio this season and collected 10 more tackles (24 for 14), 3.0 more tackles for loss (5.5-2.5) and 3 more sacks (4-1).

The 6-foot-5, 316-pound Rubio and the 6-1, 288-pound Cross have different strengths. Rubio relies on brute strength while Cross relies more on speed. Whatever gets the job done.

“He was a big help,” Rubio said of Cross. “He’s a very technical guy. With his leverage and all, he’s very aware that everything he does is low and explosive. Well, he’s really getting on my nerves. Calls aside, he’s a veteran. He’s been playing forever since I’ve been here. With all this experience comes a lot of knowledge about how to play certain situations correctly. I’m counting on him to support me in the game too.”

A leader in his own right, Rubio is helping prepare Armel Mukam, the 6-3, 302-pound sophomore who will serve as Rubio’s replacement. Although it’s likely that junior Donovan Hinish (6-2, 278), who is behind Cross on the depth chart, will also rotate behind Rubio.

“It’s a big responsibility,” Rubio said of supporting Mukam and other young defensive players. “It’s an honor. Being out there as a starter means the coaches really have a lot of confidence in my abilities. I won’t let them down.”

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Notre Dame defensive coordinator AlGolden definitely has faith in Rubio. He pointed to Rubio’s effort in helping bring down the Indiana wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams on a second-and-11 screen play that gained eight yards.

“He’s done a great job,” said Golden, who called Rubio a rolling ball of nails earlier this season. “First and foremost, Gabe plays with robustness and high motor skills. The script he flipped the other day on the perimeter forcing third-and-3 is kind of emblematic of who he is as a player. The high motor guy will turn around and dig it out, hoping to get the ball and make a play. In this particular case, he did.

“We love Gabe. He embodies a lot of what we’re looking for: just tough, tough, fierce, competitive and also has great size. We’re excited about his opportunity.”

Physicality will be crucial for Rubio against Georgia’s big offensive line. center Jared WilsonListed at 6-3 and 310 pounds, he is Georgia’s smallest starter on offense.

The Irish defense outperformed Army’s offensive line, which won the 2024 Joe Moore Award, but the Black Knights are very different from the Bulldogs. Rubio had to reach back to BYU in 2022 to come up with an offensive line that Notre Dame faced that reminds him of Georgia in both the way they block and move on the field.

Rubio is ready for the challenge.

“The key is definitely leverage, and who wants that more,” Rubio said. “We know these guys are fighters. We know these guys are good. It will depend on who is willing to get even bloodier.”

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