Nov. 19, 2014. Place kicker Michael Rubino (Cary, N.C./Middle Creek) has signed a grant-in-aid agreement to enroll at Appalachian State University in January and join the Mountaineers’ football program, Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield announced on Tuesday.
Rated as a two-star recruit and the nation’s No. 8-ranked kicker in the class of 2015 by 247Sports, Rubino is scheduled to graduate from Middle Creek H.S. in Apex, N.C. in December and attend Appalachian State starting in January. He will begin football activities immediately upon his enrollment and will participate in spring practice with the Mountaineers in 2015.
Rubino was the Southwest Wake Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior in 2013 after making 12-of-18 field goals and sending 31-of-62 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Middle Creek recovered an astounding six of his 14 onside-kick attempts. As a punter, he averaged 36 yards per punt with 20 downed inside the 20 yard line.
A first-team all-conference honoree as both a kicker and punter under head coach Michael Castellano, Rubino was named SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week 10 times over the past two seasons. He is also a four-time academic all-conference honoree.
After advancing to the semifinals of the North Carolina 4-AA state playoffs as a junior in 2013, Rubino helped lead the Mustangs to another playoff berth as a senior in ‘14.
He chose Appalachian State over Penn State and East Carolina.
“We’re thrilled to have Michael on board as a Mountaineer,” Satterfield said. “He’s going to come in and compete right away with some talented veterans for an important role on our team. More importantly, he’s a great student and person that will represent Appalachian State the right way in the classroom and the community.”