Atlanta, Georgia-based RMI Athletics is new in the scene of representing professional athletes. Yet Ryan Rubin, the founder and Contract Advisor at the company, already seems to be having success in what many insiders consider the toughest part of being an agent – recruiting new clientele.
Recently, Rubin signed Georgia Tech defensive tackle T.J. Barnes. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Barnes as the 42nd best DT available in the 2013 NFL Draft and the 541st best player overall. However, Barnes, a 2012 Coaches All-ACC Football Honorable Mention, has an invitation to the NFL Combine, where in addition to at his school’s Pro Day, he will have a lot of room to rise up Draft boards (if he puts up better than expected numbers). At 6’7, 345 lbs, Barnes is a very big boy, who has proven that he is able to cut weight when demanded by his coaching staff.
Rubin’s other football client is UCLA safety Dalton Hilliard, who has also shown some ability at running back and on special teams. He separated his shoulder this past season and had to sit out the Pac-12 championship game, but he was able to take part in the Holiday Bowl. It was not Hilliard’s best game; Baylor beat UCLA 49-26.
Neither Barnes nor Hilliard are expected to be high draft picks, and both could realistically go undrafted. But it would not be surprising to see the DT and safety at least get picked up by teams and given a shot to prove themselves in camp.
