49ers PAN OUT FOR RUBIO; FORMER SOUTHEAST STAR BEGINS NFL CAREER TODAY

Things might not have worked out like he originally thought they would, but the bottom line is that Angel Rubio is a member of the National Football League.

Rubio, who earned Division I-AA All-American honors at Southeast Missouri State University in 1997, was taken by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of this year's NFL draft.

Things appeared to be going well enough with the Steelers and Rubio envisioned himself making the squad. But then almost two weeks ago, on the day that NFL teams had to trim their rosters to 60, San Francisco acquired Rubio from the Steelers.

But the sudden change didn't seem to faze the 6-foot-3, 300-pound noseguard. He survived the 49ers' final cuts and will officially begin his NFL career today when San Francisco opens the season at home against the New York Jets.

"I guess it all didn't work out like I thought it would originally, but you just never know what's going to happen," said Rubio during a telephone interview just a few days before the start of the NFL season. "I've always been a positive person and I believe everything happens for a reason. I'm just really excited with how it's all worked out."

And anyway, after Rubio got over the initial shock of having to suddenly change organizations, he couldn't be happier to be playing for his `home town' team.

Rubio's family lives in Modesto, where he played high school football. That city is only about an hour or so from Santa Clara, where the 49ers train. And Rubio actually was raised in San Jose, which he said is only about 20 minutes from Santa Clara.

"It's really neat because it's almost like I'm back home," said Rubio with his trademark laugh. "It's really kind of overwhelming, to come back home and play for a team I followed all my life. They were probably my favorite team growing up."

Rubio said he initially didn't have much time to be too happy when he found out he was leaving the Steelers and going to the 49ers because everything happened so fast.

"It all kind of happened at the last minute," he said. "I went in on a Monday for my workouts, was called to the front office and they let me know what was going on. Within the hour, I was on a plane to San Francisco and I had to get ready for practice the next day.

"When I found out, I was pretty happy, but at the same time, in addition to the joy I felt, I was a little let down by all the time I had put in with Pittsburgh and knowing I'd have to get acquainted with a new system."

Rubio evidently made the adjustment well because the 49ers saw enough in his potential to keep him on their roster. San Francisco, in fact, was one of the teams that had expressed a great deal of interest in Rubio prior to the draft.

"They were one of the teams that had shown a lot of interest in me from the start and I really thought they might even draft me," he said. "It's just a first-class organization and I'm really happy to be here."

Rubio being with the 49ers means that two former Southeast football standouts are playing in the NFL only a relatively short distance apart.

Marquis Walker, a cornerback who completed his eligibility at Southeast in 1995 and spent parts of two seasons with the St. Louis Rams, is now playing for the Oakland Raiders. Rubio and Walker were teammates for a couple of seasons at Southeast.

"I haven't been able to talk to Marquis yet, but at some point I hope we can get together," Rubio said. "His brother (Darnell Walker) plays for the 49ers and he's been kind of keeping me up to date on what's been going on with Marquis. I'm really happy he's with the Raiders."

Rubio's main focus has been on the task at hand.

"It's too early to speculate on what role I'll play here, but I just want to be ready when I am called on," he said. "It's just really exciting to be in the NFL. It's something I've dreamed of.

"But I know in this business nothing is a sure thing, so I'm not going to take anything for granted. I'm just going to keep working hard and doing the best I can."