NFL DRAFT MAY ENLIST RUBIO; SE LINEMAN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING WEEKEND

The closer it gets to draft day, the more anxious and nervous Angel Rubio becomes.

"I think I'm just now starting to get anxious and nervous," he said. "I've been dealing with everything well, but now it's crunch time I guess you could say."

The 1998 National Football League draft will be held this weekend, with the first three rounds on Saturday and the final four rounds on Sunday.

Rubio, who earned NCAA Division I-AA All-American and Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors for Southeast Missouri State University during the 1997 season, is thought to have a good chance of being selected in the NFL draft.

But where the defensive lineman might be taken is open to speculation. Various draft reports have ranked Rubio anywhere from a mid-to-late-round pick to perhaps not being drafted at all, in which case he would attend an NFL team's camp as a free agent.

"Everyone likes to speculate (about the draft)," said Rubio with a laugh. "My status has fluctuated, from the late rounds to even as high as the second round. Everyone has their own ideas.

"The most important thing to me, regardless if it's the second round or as a free agent, I'll still go and have a shot (at making the NFL)."

And a shot is all Rubio has ever asked for. He said he's been an underdog virtually his entire football career, from the time he came to Southeast as a walkon to the time he battled back from a serious knee injury suffered while playing for the Indians.

"I've never been in a position where I've been on top," he said. "I like to be the underdog. I like for people to underrate me."

Rubio, based on his stellar senior season for the Indians -- he recorded 114 tackles, including 19 for loss, and seven quarterback sacks -- was invited to the prestigious NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, where he rubbed shoulders with most of the nation's top collegiate players.

"I think I had a pretty good showing at the combine," he said. "I really learned a lot there. I was paired with guys like (Nebraska's) Grant Wistrom and (Florida State's) Andre Wadsworth and showing I could hang with those guys really boosted my confidence."

Following the combine, Rubio had private workouts for five NFL teams: San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Indianapolis. He believes all those sessions also went well.

"I think I improved my stock with every test I had and I think that's supported with all the comments from the scouts and coaches. They were all really encouraging to me," he said.

Rubio spent some time after the 1997 season working out with a personal trainer in his home state of California and he said he's gained about 20 pounds (up to 305) since the season ended without sacrificing any quickness.

"I've had comments (from some of the coaches and scouts he worked out for) that my first step is faster now than when I was lighter," said the 6-foot-2 Rubio. "I figure I'll be tried as a noseguard and you really need the extra weight at that position. I feel good at this weight."

Rubio knows there is no guarantee he'll even be drafted this weekend, although he appears to have a good chance. He said he'll be prepared for anything.

"Of course it will be a little disappointing if I don't get drafted, because I've got in my mind I'll go in the draft," he said. "But if I have to go as a free agent, that's fine. Regardless of if I'm drafted or not, I'll still be in somebody's camp and that's all I can ask for."