Florida adds son of sitting US senator to roster as walk-on

Florida has added Miami (Fla.) Belen Jesuit Prep running back Anthony Rubio to the roster for the 2023 season.

Rubio is walking on with the Gators. He’s the son of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Grateful to God,family & coaches who helped me turn a young boys dream into a young man’s reality as a student-athlete with @GatorsFB #D23AMTEAM@coach_bnapier @CoachJuluke @belenathletics @AndrewSpiveyGC @delatorre @Blake_Alderman @Jason_Higdon @GrahamHall @BelenJesuitNews pic.twitter.com/MSEzEVavIp

— Anthony Rubio #1 (@AntRubio23) January 26, 2023

A 5-foot-9, 165-pound running back, he appears to hold offers from Buffalo, Charlotte, and Bryant. Florida State was also showing interest in Rubio, hosting him several times, but coach Billy Napier and the Gators won out in the end.

Rubio also ran track in high school, posting a personal-best wind-aided 11.18 (3.7) in the 100-meter dash in March 2022. He was also part of a 4×100 squad that made it to regionals as a junior.

During his 3-year varsity career, Rubio carried the ball 229 times for 1,474 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also brought in 26 receptions for 324 yards and a touchdown. Rubio played a bit on the defensive side of the football, too, where he picked off a pass, recovered a fumble, and broke up a pass as a senior.