Interview: 3-Star 2020 WR/OLB Nate Rutchena is Unstoppable Force on Both Sides of the Ball
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
After a standout junior season, the payoff for the fans seeing Nate Rutchena during his senior campaign has been worth the wait, and he has lived up to the expectations. A year ago, Rutchena was a powerful force on offense hauling in 45 passes for 716 yards with seven touchdowns in 10 games. On the other side of the ball, he posted a 46-tackle season with three tackles for a loss, two passes defended, and forced a fumble. Even with teams bracketing him, the 6-3, 205-pound, play-maker is going off securing 30 passes for 460 yards with 10 scores and being a disruptive force from his outside linebacker position with 61 tackles, 25 solo, eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, and a pick in Monte Vista’s 5-2 start to the year.
Rutchena has earned three-star recruiting status with his play and six programs have offered the Danville area product for his production against Division I California competition, which means a whole lot of schools are missing out because the kid can play. In an RNG catch-up interview, I got a few minutes with Rutchena doing my best covering all that he does well on the field.
*Click link for Aug. 20, 2019, RNG interview with Nate Rutchena
Interview
Nate, you are getting after it from your outside linebacker position this season. What is your mental approach for each game on defense?
“Watching film, I am looking for weaknesses. During the game, I am keeping an eye out for plays I recognize so I can make a big play. I am being more physical than the other side of the ball. As I see it, whoever is more physical and more active has a better chance for a victory.”
You are not allowing teams to run the other way with your quick get off and pursuit down the line in the backfield. That same approach is also not giving quarterbacks time to throw. What are some of the other things you are doing to impact games this season on defense?
“I am hustling to the ball and giving it my all on every play. If you see a play developing, you know the formation and the play and based off down and distance I know what is coming from watching film. If I am blitzing, I know I am going after quarterback and watching for a change in the snap count. If I am dropping into coverage, I am watching the ball applying my IQ of the game jumping routes.
“It makes it easier if you know what you are doing instead of just running around trying to kill someone. You have to have a smart mindset on every play. You have to know how to do your job. Our coaches do a great job of giving us their game plan. We are seeing the formations and knowing what they are doing before the game. We practice hard, how we practice is how we play.”
The pace of 1,000 receiving yards looks like it is within reach-
“A 1,000 yards. We’ll see, nothing is impossible.”
Being near 500 with three games left and playoff games…
“I like the pressure.”
My question, how is the offensive side of your game coming along given your high output of production?
“With my game, after watching myself on film last year to see how I played – I watched when I played against top guys. I watched the De La Salle, Granada, and O’Dowd games, they had some good guys covering me. I wanted see what they were doing against me. In the offseason, I worked with my coaches on how to beat what they were doing.
“After watching film on myself, getting more reps in practice against that type of coverage, and throwing with my quarterback, I have a better understanding on how to be more successful.”
What are you applying to your game that is different?
“I have a couple of touchdowns on fade routes thanks to basketball. It is like boxing out. I am applying different aspects to the game to be successful. Watching film is the main thing. I love watching film. I love watching other guys in the NFL and college work. I am watching them run a slant off a press with inside leverage. I want to see how can I get the defender to turn his hips and use my body to get separation; the same for a post – push vertical, open his hips, get inside, bend it and go.
“Watching them is making me better. Steph Curry practices 35-foot jump shots so he can hit them in the game. Michael Jordan, his crossover move against Utah with the jump shot, he practiced that so he could do it in a game. They practice their shots to make them in games. That is what I am doing.”
How are teams trying to defend you as a receiving threat?
“Sometimes I am seeing more physical play, a safety over top in Cover 2, or a Cover 3 bringing a linebacker over to stop the slant. Defenses are disguising what they are doing, but when they commit more than one defender to me, that gives an opportunity for other guys on my team to make plays.
“You can’t have two guys guard me and leave our other receivers open or leave room for our running back to make plays. They may limit me, but they are opening up opportunities for my teammates. We are winning, and my teammates are doing well. I am excited and happy for them. I see it as a compliment when they commit two defenders to me.”
What do you feel are the overall strengths to your game now on defense?
“From watching film, I am physical and I am not scared to hit anyone. I have a quick reaction time to the play. When I know where the play is going, I am hustling. I am fast to the ball. I am good in coverage knowing what the route concepts are because I also play on offense. I make it look like I don’t know where the ball is going but jump in and make a play.”
And on offense?
“My catching is a strength and I feel like I have good hand-eye coordination. I have gotten faster from last year. My quickness and get off are better. I like being physical; corners do not like guarding big receivers who are physical. I am a good route runner.”
You have six offers from Air Force, Cal, California-Davis, Nevada, San Jose State, and Wyoming; are you planning on visiting any schools this fall?
“I plan on taking more visits after the season. My focus is on football right now. I want that without recruiting distractions. After football, I will be able to focus more on that. I want to focus on what is important right now. I want to accomplish what the team is trying to accomplish.”
Understood. The team got a big win (35-29) last time out against Foothill. How did the team look in the victory?
“It wasn’t the prettiest victory. I give a lot of credit to Foothill. Their running back is really good over there. He ran me over one play. I was going to stick him but he ran me over. We are moving on. We will keep improving.”
Next up is California (San Ramon). What are you expecting from the Grizzlies (6-1) on Friday?
“This is our Senior Night game, our last home game. We want to go out with a bang. That is the expectation. We will work for that result.”
Nate, thanks again for your time. Wishing you and the Mustangs success on Senior Night.
“Thank you.”
Photo credits: JS Theriault photography; Nate Rutchena