With new faces surrounding him, UCF offensive lineman Paul Rubelt is at a crucial point in his football journey.
Rubelt, a fifth-year senior, is the only returning starter on the offensive side of the ball from last season for the Knights. In 2024, after never having started a game in his collegiate career, Rubelt not only made his first start but also started every game at right tackle for UCF.
This year’s team represents a dramatic departure from last year’s, with overhauls not only to the roster
but also to the coaching staff.
“It’s been very interesting,” Rubelt said during the Knights’ 2025 player media day. “Especially because we have so many new people on the team, but you can’t change anything about that.”
“You’ve got to face that kind of adversity and kind of go with it.”
Rubelt made his mark as one of the best in the trenches for UCF last season, which ranked 14th in the nation in total offense (447.8). He graded at 78.7 percent in pass blocking, the second-best among starters.
Rubelt became a key component in clearing the way for star running back RJ Harvey, who led the Knights to the No. 5 rushing offense in the country and the best in the Big 12. Things may be different now, but Rubelt is excited about the players who surround him.
“All these new guys, they’re special,” Rubelt said. “They’ve all grown on me; I like every one of them. They come ready to work, and we’ve been attacking fall camp.”
Since the beginning of spring camp, Rubelt has noticed significant growth from the team as the culture continues to strengthen.
“There’s been a big improvement. In the spring, it was more like butting heads, and now it’s like we have grown really close to each other.”
For the first time, Rubelt is interacting with multiple position groups.
“It’s the first time I’ve really interacted with the wide receivers. I like those guys,” Rubelt said with a smile. “I interact with the defensive ends, they’re my buddies, they’re my teammates.”
“I don’t think it’s just me, it’s the whole team. “We’ve been interacting with the position groups, and that’s good; the team needs it.”
While Rubelt is developing bonds across the roster, one group he is still getting used to may be the most important: The quarterbacks.
“Obviously, it’s hard when you have four different guys, four different quarterbacks,” Rubelt said. “But that also doesn’t matter, you’ve got to be on point, you’ve got to do what the guy behind you says, you’ve got to trust him, we’ve got to trust each one of them.”
“It’s been good though, I like all of them.”
At 6-foot-10 and 330 pounds, Rubelt’s physical presence is undeniable. However, he continues to improve his intangibles, with an emphasis on leadership throughout the offseason.
“Most of my improvement has happened off the field, especially in a leadership role, because I was kind of still evolving last year; still evolving right now.”
A native of Frankfurt-Oder, Germany, Rubelt continues to overcome a language barrier when taking verbal command of a situation on the field.
“I love the thought of being a leader,” Rubelt said. “Where I do think I have a hard time is finding the words, and I do think it’s a language barrier.”
“If I could do it in German, that would be 100 times better, I promise. But it is hard for me. I have to think of something in German and then spit it out in English in the moment to get the guys going or address something.”
Despite the challenges Rubelt is facing, he revels in the fun he’s having with this new cast of players and coaches, a feeling he has yearned for.
“I think that is what I always wanted, and that’s what I’ve been missing the past four years,” Rubelt said. “You can still get work done — there’s a time and a place to be serious — but there should be time to joke around and have fun with your guys.”
“We have that right now, and I’ve been really enjoying that, and I think that just helps the team bond more.”
UCF kicks off the 2025 season at home against Jacksonville State on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET.
