Full Story on TampaBayStorm.com
TAMPA - Former USF wide receiver DeAndrew Rubin is back playing in his hometown as he currently stars for the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League. After playing for Orlando for three seasons, the St. Petersburg native is now bringing his talents back to the place where he first made a name for himself.
Below is the story that run on TampaBayStorm.com.
DeAndrew Rubin's Homecoming
By Evan Vladem
Storm wide receiver DeAndrew Rubin knew he was going to hear the noise going into Saturday's Tampa vs. Orlando matchup. On top of the War on I-4 being the fiercest of rivalries in all of arena football, the fourth-year veteran strapped up for the Predators for three consecutive seasons. Before the game, some Predators' fans called Rubin a traitor.
"The crowd in Orlando gets going. I wanted to put on a good show for my old fans and shut up the ones that were talking trash," Rubin said.
The former USF standout did just that. Rubin recorded three receiving touchdowns in the Storm's 62-50 victory.
"I silenced them," he said, "The first touchdown felt good and I kept getting more. There was a lot of chatter going on. The other team was talking all kinds of crazy stuff. They were calling me names; the fans were calling me names. That comes with the territory of switching teams and going to their archrival."
After playing only four games this season, Rubin is on pace to break his season highs in every category. So far, Rubin has tallied 31 receptions for 535 yards and 13 touchdowns. His previous season-bests were 46 receptions for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The product out of Dixie Hollins High School in St. Petersburg, Fl. boasts that the increased production stems from his comfortability.
"I'm home," he said. "It's like a homecoming for me. I'm staying close with all of my high school friends and family members. They're able to watch me here and so are my fans."
Rubin shined in high school at Dixie Hollins, thanks in part to his good friend and Rebel quarterback Marquel Blackwell.
"Marquel and I have been playing football together since we were eight years old," Rubin said. "On the field, everything was just natural. We could give each other one look and we would both know what we were doing and thinking. It was just real natural."
After high school, the tandem brought their bond to the University of South Florida.
"It was great for both of our families to see us play for four years at the University of South Florida," Blackwell said. "I hope a lot of the younger guys around the community will notice that situation too and understand how powerful it is to have people in the stands with you every week. You are able to go back home, be around your friends and do the things that you have to do with the team to be successful."
The pair roomed, trained, studied film and did practically everything together.
"We spent a lot of time just critiquing the defenses and I knew what he liked," Blackwell said. "We were together forever so that was pretty natural for us."
Entering their true freshman season, Blackwell was listed as a reserve and Rubin was getting little playing time. After the first two games, Rubin was awarded a start. That very game, the bond was reunited.
South Florida was struggling and coaches decided to bring in Blackwell.
"It just worked out that way. Our starting quarterback, Glen Gauntt, who is actually the backup quarterback for the Orlando Predators, was getting a lot of pressure. He wasn't as mobile as Marquel. To help the offensive line out they put in Marquel and from there he flourished. When he got in we started connecting again and right away," Rubin said.
The duo would soon find themselves in South Florida record books. Blackwell threw for 9,108 yards and 57 touchdowns while rushing for 1,235 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career. Rubin struggled with injuries but still posted 1,306 receiving yards and four touchdowns while registering almost 4,000 career all-purpose yards. His 60 kick-off returns for 1,534 yards and one touchdown was a school record.
"I think it's a continuity thing. It's a competitive accountability. You both have to be accountable for each other to be successful everyday," Blackwell said.
"It's a competitive edge of being around each other. It is a big thing when you grow up and win together. You understand the winning aspect of it. There are a lot of pluses in that deal."
The pair were still receiving hype subsequent to graduation and after running a sub-4.5-second forty yard dash, Rubin was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round (253rd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. Blackwell, however, went undrafted but signed to the New York Jets. After preseason, both were cut. Blackwell, who now coaches at South Florida, knew his NFL playing days were over. Rubin, however, spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions before entering the AFL in 2006. He spent enough time in the NFL, though, to be featured on sports cards.
"It was amazing and a great feeling to see yourself on a sports cards. The first time I saw my sports card was in 2003. A guy came to my house with 5,000 cards and I had to autograph all of them. After the first 100, I got tired of them real quick. My wrist started hurting; my hand started cramping up from all of that signing," Rubin said.
One of those very cards is still selling on eBay by sportscardman4, a top rated seller, for a $6.39
Before joining the Tampa Bay Storm for the 2010 season, Rubin played at Orlando from 2006-08 and played five games with the New Orleans in 2008.
"We couldn't be any happier to have DeAndrew with us," Storm Owner and President Todd Boren said. Boren, who previously was a majority shareholder of the Orlando Predators, is familiar with Rubin.
"When I heard that we signed him, I thought it was a great acquisition for us. He certainly is an all-heart guy; he works his tail off."
After struggling with injuries, Rubin, 31, is finally healthy.
"I feel good," Rubin said. "With the year off, my body had the ability to rehabilitate and heal. I feel like I'm 25 running with these guys. I lost a little bit, but I still have some left. I can still run that 4.4-second forty."
