- Anthony Rubio took advantage of his first play in college football
The son of a United States senator scored his first collegiate touchdown on Friday night, sending his teammates wild.
The Florida Gators easily handled the Tulane Green Wave in the Gasparilla Bowl, winning 33-8.
And Anthony Rubio – the son of Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida – saw action late in the game when he punched in a nine-yard touchdown.
Rubio’s teammates heckled him in the end zone after the score, as Florida’s bench cleared and the team was assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
It was the redshirt freshman’s first time playing for the Gators, and he was understandably excited after the game.
‘It was crazy. First I want to thank God for that, that wouldn’t have happened (without) him,” Rubio said reporter Jesse Simmons then.
Anthony Rubio celebrates his first college touchdown for Florida on Friday
Rubio is seen at right in a 2019 photo with his father Marco and FIU football coaches
Senator Rubio, recently elected Secretary of State, congratulated his son on X afterward
“But I’m so glad He did. That was great, that was a great experience. Go Gators!’
His father also went to X to congratulate his son.
“Glad my son scored,” he began. “But what I’m really proud of is the joy of his teammates and that he gave all the glory to God.”
Anthony finished the game with six rushes for 32 yards and a score.
According to the Gators websiteRubio turned down scholarship offers from Buffalo, Bryant and Charlotte last year to join Florida as the preferred walk-on.
He hasn’t seen the field in 2023.
Senator Rubio has now been appointed by new President Donald Trump as the next US Secretary of State.