RUBIO NAMED TO AP SQUAD

Things must have looked mighty bleak to Angel Rubio back in 1995 when he injured his knee during Southeast Missouri State University's first football game of the season.

He underwent surgery and never stepped on the field again that season. A long, grueling rehabilitation process was in Rubio's future.

"But I never really doubted in my mind that I would come back and be any less of a player," said Rubio. "I knew what I was on path to do."

What's Rubio's path has taken him since that serious injury is to a sensational Southeast career, one that continues to produce plenty of awards.

Just last week, Rubio was named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

And Wednesday, the senior defensive tackle hauled in second-team Associated Press Division I-AA All-America honors. He'll also be named an American Football Coaches Association All-America when that squad is officially released in the next several days and there is a good chance he'll make some of the other All-America squads that will be released soon.

"It's really nice to have these awards," said Rubio Wednesday upon learning he had made the prestigious AP All-America list. "It's a good feeling knowing the things I've been working for have been rewarded, that the hard work, the sweat and the tears have paid off."

The deeply religious Rubio paused and added, "I have to give a lot of credit to the good Lord, who has made it all possible."

Rubio, a 6-foot-3, 290-pounder who is as ferocious a competitor on the field as he is gentle and amiable off the field, turned in a sensational final season for the Indians this year.

The native of Modesto, Calif., had a strong 1996 season after bouncing back from the injury, recording 103 total tackles to earn second-team all-OVC honors.

Then this year Rubio was simply a terror on the field, recording 114 total tackles, including 19 tackles for loss, and seven quarterback sacks. He also had 23 quarterback hurries, forced two fumbles and recovered one fumble.

Not surprisingly, even though he played for a team that finished next-to-last in the OVC, Rubio impressed Southeast's opposing coaches enough to be voted the league's top defensive player.

"Angel just had a tremendous season for us and he is truly deserving of every honor he gets," said Southeast head coach John Mumford. "Making All-America is a great honor but there's no doubt Angel was one of the nation's best players this year.

"To come back from the kind of injury he had and be this type of player says a lot for Angel. He's an extremely hard worker and a great competitor. He's also a great person off the field."

Even though the football season has been over for several weeks, Rubio has not been resting on his laurels. He's continued to train and work out to try and stay ready for things that hopefully will be in his future.

Rubio is on a long list of potential players for various national senior all-star games that will be held in the coming weeks, although whether he will be invited to participate is still up in the air.

He's also hoping to receive an invitation to the prestigious NFL combine that will be held in the spring.

"I'm hoping I get a chance to play in one of the all-star games and I've love to be in the combine," he said. "I'm just working as hard as I can and hoping I get to show off what I have. I can't let myself drop at all. I have to stay humble and keep working."

Rubio drew plenty of attention from NFL scouts this year. There is a possibility he'll be drafted, but even if he isn't, he'll certainly get a shot in some team's training camp.

"I just want to have a shot," he said. "I just want to be able to look back one day and say I'm proud that I did my best, whatever happens."

But Rubio, as level-headed as he is talented, isn't about to put all his hopes into an NFL career. The criminal justice major plans to get his degree and one day would like to work with at-risk youngsters.

"I come from a rough area where people were getting shot and killed all the time and drugs were all over the place," he said. "I have a lot of things I want to do with my life, one of them working with youth some day. I want to help kids who might not have had the advantages that other kids had."

* Rubio is the first Southeast football player named an AP All-America since defensive lineman Doug Berg earned first-team honors in 1994.

* Rubio is one of only three OVC players named to the AP squad. Eastern Illinois offensive lineman Chris Dunkle is also a second-team choice while Eastern Kentucky offensive lineman Tyrone Hopson earned third-team honors.