Image credit: Bryant University

By Marty Hastings

U.S. $300,000 SCHOLARSHIP

Rubel of Westsyde snares full-ride football scholarship to NCAA Division I Bryant University

Jun 9, 2025 | 4:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — Darn near every college in the U.S. received tape from Logan Rubel and the hulking football player from Kamloops travelled far and wide to be seen by Canadian and American post-secondary pigskin coaches.

Three months ago, the NCAA Division I Bryant University Bulldogs unleashed a life-changing offer.

Tight ends coach John Sielawa phoned the graduating Westsyde Whundas’ standout Rubel to ask three questions – how much do you love football, how are your grades and is Rhode Island too far?

Rubel explained his grades are great, football is everything and Rhode Island is a 5,000-kilometre hop, skip and jump from the Tournament Capital.

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“And that’s when he offered me a full-ride scholarship to Bryant,” Rubel said.

The scholarship is worth nearly U.S. $300,000 over four years.

“This means so much to my family, coming out of university with no debt, and my whole family’s been very athletic,” said Rubel, who plans to study business and psychology at Bryant. “Being honoured with this is next level. It’s been a dream my whole life.”

Whundas’ football coach Cleve Maartman met CFJC Today on the Westsyde grass field and pointed over to neighbouring David Thompson Elementary, noting that is where he first saw potential in Rubel.

“It’s very special,” Maartman said, noting Rubel also honed his craft in the Kamloops Community Football ranks. “We believe there’s only two students, two athletes from Westsyde, who got a full ride to a Division I school and it’s Logan Rubel and Dylan Armstrong, who went down to Texas.”

Armstrong went on to a prolific career in shot put, with exploits including winning bronze at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing.

Much like Armstrong, Rubel is mammoth – standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 pounds – and was a dedicated, versatile athlete during his youth.

“I played everything I was told to,” said Rubel, whose Bulldogs compete in the Northeast Conference. “’Yes, coach. Yes, coach.’ I played every other sport possible up to Grade 7. I’ve played probably almost every position, even took some snaps at quarterback. My main goal has always been tight end.”

Added Maartman: “The dedication, the desire and the love for the sport paid dividends and now he’s on a full ride.”

The Bulldogs open their college football campaign against the New Mexico State Aggies on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Las Cruces, N.M.

“I just want to give all the kids hope at our school, in Kamloops and even the whole Okanagan that have dreams of playing in that Division I level,” Rubel said. “Everyone says, ‘Move down to America. Move here or move there’ and I’m at a 750-person school and showing all the little school kids they can do it.”