In an upcoming Queipo’s Cowl 4 article you can find I make reference to former Bucs proper deal with Demar Dotson. Dotson began as a observe squad participant with little or no soccer expertise and developed into an 11-year stalwart for Tampa Bay. And at 6-foot-9, Dotson was huge. Paul Rubelt bears placing similarities to Dotson.
At 6-foot-10 inches, he stands taller than Dotson. And as a German native, he was additionally late to soccer. Now the parallel isn’t good. Dotson performed one 12 months of school soccer earlier than turning professional. Rubelt performed 5 years at UCF, together with two as a starter, however solely began taking part in the game when he was about 17 years outdated, which is way later than most gamers getting an opportunity to compete within the NFL.
The parallels between Dotson and Rubelt don’t cease with their backgrounds.
Paul Rubelt Bodily Profile
Paul Rubelt is a superb athlete for his top. At 313 kilos, he’s extraordinarily lean. However the place most males of his dimension would battle to maneuver fluidly resulting from their longer limbs, Rubelt bucks the development. He has spectacular footwork and a powerful core. These traits had been on full show at his Professional Day the place he impressed together with his explosive testing and his 20-yard cut up and 40-yard sprint occasions.
Rubelt’s testing is attention-grabbing as a result of his 10-yard cut up is extra common, however he gathers pace underway. The leap testing is extra related in my thoughts because it reveals how properly he can get into his cross set and drive ahead when run blocking. And his agility testing is attention-grabbing as he examined plus within the quick shuttle however struggled on the 3-cone.
Paul Rubelt’s Faculty Manufacturing
Rubelt began without any consideration deal with in 2024 earlier than switching to left deal with in 2025. Over these two seasons he graded out as a powerful cross protector who performed inconsistently when requested to run block. Under the floor, the cross blocking dipped when he was left on an island in true cross units.
The place Rubelt’s cross block grade, effectivity and strain charges confirmed as plus total, in true cross units his cross block grade fell to the 51st percentile, his cross block effectivity fell to the forty sixth percentile and his strain price allowed fell to the fortieth percentile. When scheme or assist weren’t obtainable to Rubelt he carried out much more common than good.
Story of the Tape
I watched Paul Rubelt’s closing three video games of 2025 towards Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and BYU. My total thesis is that he’s very like me once I stroll into House Depot or Lowes. Nearly each device is out there, however neither he nor I don’t at all times know easy methods to use them.
Bucs OT Paul Rubelt – Picture courtesy of UCF Athletics
Move Safety
In opposition to Texas Tech, neither edge rusher David Bailey nor Romello Peak beat him with pure pace for many of the afternoon, and the explanation confirmed up on rep after rep. Rubelt makes use of his 35 7/8-inch arms to make contact early and steer the push, pushing edge rushers up the arc and properly past the quarterback’s launch level.
He pairs that size with a authentic vertical set, getting actual depth and redirecting pace slightly than getting run up the sphere. When a rusher’s plan is to win the sting with get-off, Rubelt has the instruments and the boldness to take it away earlier than it reaches the pocket.
Bucs OT Paul Rubelt – Picture courtesy of UCF Athletics
The within counter is the reply to him, and Texas Tech discovered it. Each spins and fast modifications of course discovered room beneath his set, and by the second half it was a sample slightly than a flash. The mechanism is clear.
Rubelt sells so laborious to wall off the pace rush that he leaves the within lane open, and his change of course is just not sharp sufficient to get well as soon as a rusher crosses his face. His redirect is usually late, and he will get caught leaning too laborious outdoors which leaves him inclined to falling down on a powerful shove as his opponent transitions inside.
The encouraging notice that bodes properly for his improvement is that his footwork and base are literally good so enchancment can include dedication to craft and good teaching.
Rubelt goes to have to determine easy methods to steadiness towards these inside counters if he hopes to take the following step within the NFL. pic.twitter.com/Q5B9s7ldHi
The leverage piece is the extra lasting concern. Rubelt’s top works towards him, and when he performs too tall, he provides up his chest. As soon as a defender is into his body, his lean construct provides no anchor to get well, and he will get placed on skates and pushed backward.
It’s value noting Texas Tech was his worst sport of the season, a 41.2 cross block grade that was a part of a two-game dip, and he answered it together with his finest sport of the 12 months towards BYU the next week. However the inside counters and the late edge loss to Bailey, the primary all day, are the reps that present what a contemporary, savvy rusher can nonetheless do to him.
Run Blocking
The identical size and footwork which are foundational to his finest reps in cross safety are the identical traits that present up on his finest run blocking performs. That’s the place the athletic profile begins to repay. Rubelt works properly on double groups, combining to the second stage and ending, and on one Texas Tech rep he climbed off a double with the tight finish, drove the linebacker filter out of the body, and saved his toes transferring the entire method.
For a person at 6-foot-10, that sort of motion within the open subject is uncommon, and it’s the trait that provides his run sport an actual ceiling.
The difficulty comes when the job is energy as an alternative of motion. Rubelt’s top and his lack of mass for that top damage him when he has to match energy on the level of assault, the place a decrease, denser defender can get underneath his pads and stand him up. That’s the sincere cap on his Rubelt’s blocking.
However his attain blocks are a real plus, and that isn’t a small factor. His size lets him get to landmarks different tackles merely can not attain, which makes him a weapon in extensive zone, in a position to lower off bottom defenders and seal angles most tackles might solely hope to. In the appropriate scheme, the attain blocking alone is a motive to guess on him.
Paul Rubelt’s Sincere Path Ahead With The Bucs
What makes Paul Rubelt most intriguing is how he can fill a really particular roster spot that’s reserved for an especially small subset of gamers. As a result of he was born in Germany and performed little or no ball earlier than school, he qualifies for the Worldwide Participant Pathway program. By way of that program he can occupy an extra observe squad spot only for these gamers, so he’ll make the observe squad this 12 months with an exemption.
The Bucs can use that spot to proceed to develop Rubelt whereas nonetheless utilizing the remainder of the observe squad for gamers who’re extra pro-ready to step up in case of damage. Bucs vp of participant personnel Mike Biehl famous the developmental arc he might want to comply with when speaking about him.
Bucs OT Paul Rubelt – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“He’s still early in his football journey and a little bit raw, but he’s a big dude that can move his feet pretty well,” Biehl stated. “He’s bought the dimensions and size that performs in our league.
“He’s just an intriguing guy, basically a big ball of clay.”
Demar Dotson was as soon as an enormous ball of clay, and the Bucs molded him right into a foundational a part of their offensive line. Final 12 months Ben Chukwuma was an enormous ball of clay who the Bucs bought serviceable play with a ton of upside out of him. Rubelt may be the following ball of clay that transforms into an vital a part of Tampa Bay’s depth chart.
