Paul Rubelt stood staring on the clean whiteboard, pen in hand, and instantly knew he was in hassle.
As a freshman offensive lineman, Rubelt was requested by his UCF coaches to diagram the variations between a good and odd entrance. For somebody born and raised in Germany, who didn’t develop up enjoying American soccer till his teenagers, it was all new to him.
“I used to be standing there pondering: I’m not going to final a yr. I don’t know the best factor about soccer,” Rubelt mentioned not too long ago to the Sentinel.
Practically six seasons later, Rubelt is considered one of 25 seniors to be honored as a part of UCF’s Senior Day on Saturday earlier than the Knights host Oklahoma State at Acrisure Bounce Home Stadium within the dwelling finale.
“I knew I wasn’t going to give up,” Rubelt recalled of these early days. “Once I begin a factor, I’m going to finish it, however I did suppose I’d get kicked off the group.”
Rubelt, 25, has gone from being a digital unknown knocked on his bottom in his first observe in 2020 to being a multi-year starter at sort out for the Knights. In an age when a participant’s dedication to a faculty is extra like a summer season romance, Rubelt has been a cornerstone of this system, having performed via three teaching modifications and a transfer to a Energy 4 convention.
Knightro could also be UCF’s mascot, however Rubelt has been the face of this system all through a lot of this season with a happy-go-lucky smile regardless of the laborious occasions.
“He’s been an awesome anchor for us. He’s like an envoy for UCF,” mentioned coach Scott Frost. “I do know the eagerness he has for UCF. He’s cherished his time right here, like a lot of the guys have, and we’ll be unhappy to see him go, however I believe he has brilliant issues forward.”
“Within the brief time that I’ve identified him, he’s virtually like a brother to me,” mentioned senior operating again Myles Montgomery.
It’s laborious to overlook Rubelt.
At 6-foot-10, he sometimes stands a head taller than the remainder of the UCF gamers on the observe discipline, and at 310 kilos, Rubelt is an imposing determine. But his cheery disposition and humorousness additionally assist him stand out.
When requested what followers will most bear in mind him for, Rubelt mentioned, “I’m tall,” adopted by a bellowing chortle.
However he rapidly will get critical.
“I don’t know what individuals will bear in mind. Everyone’s completely different, however what I need individuals to recollect me for is that I’m loyal to this system,” Rubelt mentioned. “That I stand for my phrase and am a person of my phrase and I hope all people thinks I’m an awesome man.”
Rubelt’s athletic profession started in his hometown of Frankfurt-Oder, the place he joined a neighborhood swimming membership. Finally, he traded within the pool for the inexperienced grass of a soccer discipline, enjoying for the Purple Cocks American soccer membership.
He got here to America and performed his first sort out soccer at Hiawatha Excessive Faculty close to Rockford, Illinois, earlier than ultimately incomes a suggestion from former UCF coach Josh Heupel.
It was Heupel, who coached the Knights from 2018-20, who helped out Rubelt in these early days.
“He would give me confidence after I would speak to him,” Rubelt mentioned.
A couple of years later, it might be head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand who would belief him sufficient to make him a starter. Rubelt credit Hand’s tutelage for the participant he’s in the present day.
On Saturday, Rubelt will have a good time his ultimate dwelling sport along with his mother and father and a few dozen household and mates who made the journey from Germany.
Rubelt’s father, Andreas, has been in Orlando over the previous couple of weeks. He arrived in time to look at Rubelt play in UCF’s House Sport towards Houston on Nov. 7. Since then, the 71-year-old musician has been taking in his son’s each day schedule, together with watching observe and even having fun with a meal with the offensive line.
“My dad’s probably not huge into smartphones and stuff like that,” mentioned Rubelt. “I’ve despatched him a few YouTube clips of sport highlights that he can watch. Apart from that, he can’t comprehend the sport, however he needs to know. He’s asking the precise questions, nevertheless it’s laborious.”
Nonetheless, Andreas stays a proud father.
“Am I the dad? Is that this my son?” Andreas mentioned with Rubelt translating. “I knew he was all the time athletic as a result of he swam and had a reasonably good time doing it. I used to be all the time with him when he had competitions and I observed early on that he preferred group sports activities.
“When he began enjoying soccer, you might see him beginning to embrace it and it match like a glove.”
Andreas, 71, participated in observe and discipline earlier than ultimately selecting a musical profession. He picked up a trumpet at 9 years outdated and has been enjoying ever since in a wide range of bands.
“As a result of I learn about embracing the grind, that’s how he is aware of I’m his son,” Rubelt added.
Rubelt’s mom, Kerstin, goals to reach on Friday from Germany together with a gaggle of practically a dozen family and friends. She’ll be seeing her son play soccer for the primary time, despite the fact that she beforehand attended the 2023 Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa towards Georgia Tech; Rubelt didn’t play in that sport.
“My mother is aware of [football] a little bit bit and my uncle is attempting to get into it,” mentioned Rubelt.
It’s been robust for his household and mates again dwelling to look at his video games. They will often catch them on a streaming service, however it may be troublesome given the 6-hour time distinction between the East Coast and Germany.
Rubelt admits he’ll have goosebumps earlier than kickoff on Saturday, particularly when taking the sector along with his mother and father through the Senior Day celebration.
“For me, soccer is the best factor on the earth,” mentioned Rubelt. “Folks from Germany, not all people is aware of about soccer like that, however I do know that once they see it, they’ll suppose that is simply superior. Everyone’s advised me afterward that that is superb. So let’s hope that’s the case this Saturday.”
Please discover me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel. Electronic mail: mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com. Join the Sentinel’s Knights Weekly e-newsletter for a roundup of all our UCF protection.
