Mark Rubin
Encyclopedia
Mark Harrison Rubin is a former American football
safety of the National Football League
. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Penn State
.
. A four-year starter at wide receiver and safety at Amherst High School
in Amherst, New York
, Rubin finished his high school career as the holder of three NYSPHSAA
Western New York Section records: receptions (167), receiving yardage (2,488), and touchdowns (34). He was a three-time all-state pick, a three-time All-Western New York selection and was a two-time Section VI Class A Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He was a two-year captain of the football team.
Rubin was also an all-league lacrosse
player, but he was perhaps best known as a standout swimmer
. He was a two-time state champion
and an eight-time High School All-America
n. At age 14, he was the #1-ranked swimmer in the country in his age group in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle. He beat future Olympic
gold medalist Michael Phelps
on several occasions.
-opener at Wisconsin
, making two receptions
for 21 yards. He earned a starting job
the next week at Minnesota
, making a season-high six catches for 60 yards. He started 6 of the final 7 games, totaling 16 receptions for 187 yards for the season. Rubin dislocated his ankle in an August 2005 practice, and redshirted
the 2005 season. He began the 2006 season at safety, but was troubled by a broken collarbone
and played sparingly. He was switched back to wide receiver in time for Penn State's game against Temple
and saw limited action the rest of the season.
In 2007, Rubin played in every game on both defense and special teams and earned the starting safety job the last five games. He ended the season with 32 tackles
(17 solo), with one tackle for loss. Rubin had 8 tackles in the Nittany Lions' 24-17 Alamo Bowl
victory over Texas A&M
, helping hold the Aggies to 3 points over the final 49 minutes.
Rubin became the Nittany Lions' full-time starter in 2008, and made his first interception
September 6, versus Oregon State
. Rubin's best game came during Penn State's much-anticipated nationally-televised showdown with Ohio State
. With Penn State trailing by three points with 10:38 to play, Rubin's tackle of Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor
forced a momentum-changing fumble which was recovered by linebacker Navorro Bowman
. The play was voted the week's Pontiac
Game Changing Performance with an overwhelming 53 percent of the total votes, Rubin led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles in the victory, and was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation
National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten
Defensive Player of the Week. He ended the season with 60 tackles
(30 solo), with one tackle for loss, two interceptions
and one forced fumble.
Overall, Rubin started 24 career games at Penn State.
(*At Penn State Pro Day, March 18, 2009)
in finance and a Bachelor of Arts
in public relations, while graduating with a 3.80 GPA. He was accepted by Penn State’s graduate school
as a MBA
candidate that fall. He was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2006, 2007, 2008) three times and was named First Team Academic All-America
n in 2008.
out of Penn State
immediately following the 2009 NFL Draft
. He was waived June 30. Re-signed on August 10. Waived again on September 5.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Early years
Rubin was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. A four-year starter at wide receiver and safety at Amherst High School
Amherst High School (Amherst, New York)
Amherst Central High School is a public high school in Snyder, New York, a hamlet within the town of Amherst, which is located within the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area. It is the only high school of the Amherst Central School District. Its current school enrollment is approximately 1000...
in Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
, Rubin finished his high school career as the holder of three NYSPHSAA
New York State Public High School Athletic Association
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is the governing body of interscholastic sports for many schools in New York. It consists of 768 member high schools from the state divided into 11 numbered sections...
Western New York Section records: receptions (167), receiving yardage (2,488), and touchdowns (34). He was a three-time all-state pick, a three-time All-Western New York selection and was a two-time Section VI Class A Offensive Player-of-the-Year. He was a two-year captain of the football team.
Rubin was also an all-league lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
player, but he was perhaps best known as a standout swimmer
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
. He was a two-time state champion
New York State Public High School Athletic Association
The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is the governing body of interscholastic sports for many schools in New York. It consists of 768 member high schools from the state divided into 11 numbered sections...
and an eight-time High School All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n. At age 14, he was the #1-ranked swimmer in the country in his age group in the 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter freestyle. He beat future Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalist Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
on several occasions.
College career
Rubin saw his first game action as a wide receiver in Penn State's 2004 Big TenBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
-opener at Wisconsin
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
, making two receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 21 yards. He earned a starting job
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
the next week at Minnesota
Minnesota Golden Gophers football
The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers are one of the oldest programs in college football history. They compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. The Golden Gophers have claimed six national championships and have an all time record of 646–481–44 as...
, making a season-high six catches for 60 yards. He started 6 of the final 7 games, totaling 16 receptions for 187 yards for the season. Rubin dislocated his ankle in an August 2005 practice, and redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
the 2005 season. He began the 2006 season at safety, but was troubled by a broken collarbone
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
and played sparingly. He was switched back to wide receiver in time for Penn State's game against Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
and saw limited action the rest of the season.
In 2007, Rubin played in every game on both defense and special teams and earned the starting safety job the last five games. He ended the season with 32 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
(17 solo), with one tackle for loss. Rubin had 8 tackles in the Nittany Lions' 24-17 Alamo Bowl
2007 Alamo Bowl
The 2007 Valero Alamo Bowl is a college football bowl game that was part of the 2007–2008 bowl season of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 15th Alamo Bowl and the first Alamo Bowl sponsored by the Valero Energy Corporation...
victory over Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
, helping hold the Aggies to 3 points over the final 49 minutes.
Rubin became the Nittany Lions' full-time starter in 2008, and made his first interception
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
September 6, versus Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers football
The Oregon State Beavers football team represents Oregon State University in NCAA Division I-A college football. The team first fielded an organized football team in 1893 and is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The head coach is Mike Riley, with Danny Langsdorf as the offensive...
. Rubin's best game came during Penn State's much-anticipated nationally-televised showdown with Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. With Penn State trailing by three points with 10:38 to play, Rubin's tackle of Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor
Terrelle Pryor is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008−2010...
forced a momentum-changing fumble which was recovered by linebacker Navorro Bowman
Navorro Bowman
NaVorro R. Bowman is an American football inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, and played his collegiate football for the Penn State Nittany Lions football team.-Early years:...
. The play was voted the week's Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
Game Changing Performance with an overwhelming 53 percent of the total votes, Rubin led the defense with a career-high 11 tackles in the victory, and was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation
Walter Camp Football Foundation
The Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
National Defensive Player of the Week and Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Defensive Player of the Week. He ended the season with 60 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
(30 solo), with one tackle for loss, two interceptions
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
and one forced fumble.
Overall, Rubin started 24 career games at Penn State.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||||||
| Ht | Wt | 40-yard dash 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Broad | BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic Wonderlic Test The Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test is a twelve-minute, fifty-question test used to assess the aptitude of prospective employees for learning and problem-solving in a range of occupations. The test was developed by industrial psychologist Eldon F. Wonderlic... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-1¼ * | 222 lb * | 4.59 * | 1.58 * | 2.67 * | 4.26 * | 6.78 * | 32 in. * | 9'07" * | 17 * | 37 * |
Academic
Rubin completed dual majors in August 2008, earning a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in finance and a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in public relations, while graduating with a 3.80 GPA. He was accepted by Penn State’s graduate school
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
as a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
candidate that fall. He was named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2006, 2007, 2008) three times and was named First Team Academic All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n in 2008.
St. Louis Rams
He was signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
out of Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
immediately following the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He was waived June 30. Re-signed on August 10. Waived again on September 5.