Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield remembers sitting on a bus talking to defensive back Greg Rubin on Junior Day five years ago.

Rubin, a junior standout at White Station High at that time, was being recruited by the Tigers.

He’ll now be playing in his final home game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium when Memphis (8-2, 4-2 American Athletic Conference) plays host to UAB on Saturday (7 p.m., ESPN2). Rubin will be among 35 players being honored on Senior Day. Some of the honorees still have eligibility remaining, but for Rubin, this is his last hurrah.

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“The next thing you know, you look up, and it flies by,” Silverfield said. “Like, man, where did all this go?”

Rubin, a Memphis native, was rooted in the city well before he put on a Tigers jersey. He was offered by multiple Power Conference schools as a three-star prospect, including Tennessee, LSU, Vanderbilt and Duke. Rubin decided to stay with his hometown school instead.

He earned a starting spot as a true freshman in the same year Seth Henigan became a freshman starting quarterback. 

Despite playing well early in his career, Rubin was never interested in the NCAA transfer portal. Senior starters Henigan, Rubin, Roc Taylor, Koby Drake and Jonah Gambill have all been in the Memphis program for at least four years. It’s a milestone that doesn’t happen often with the transfer portal and NIL running rampant.

“That was my plan to be here all my years just to put on for the city and represent Memphis,” Rubin said. “So it means everything to me just being able to go out knowing I’m a Tiger for life.

“All my people are here, you know? So it just feels great to represent them and know that they see me. They watch me, and they support me in everything I do. I feel like that helped me in my journey here, just knowing I’ve got my people right here with me and they love what I do. They show love, too.”

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For Rubin, wearing a Tigers jersey is deeper than just representing his university. He said he strives to embody the city’s spirit with every opportunity, especially on the football field. His clothing brand is another way to leave his mark on the city. The meaning behind “Get Money Inc.” is to hustle for what you want. That’s what Rubin has been doing for the Tigers for four seasons.

“Everything I do, I try to represent and show that Memphis, this (is) me,” Rubin said. “This (is) all I’ve known all my life. I ain’t never been (anywhere) else but here. With everything I do, just show that grit, how I carry myself, how I walk and talk, everything.

Saturday will be Rubin’s 46th career game and 37th career start for Memphis. He’s come a long way from the kid he was entering the program in 2021. He said he learned how to prepare properly from former Memphis defensive backs Quindell Johnson and Jacobi Francis. Both players are currently with NFL teams, which is where Rubin hopes to end up.

“I was a little knucklehead,” Rubin said of his freshman year. “I ain’t really know nothing. (I) was just trying to find my way (and) find my role here. Now though, I feel like I’ve grown as a man more than just a player.

“Just knowing what to expect every day, how to be a pro, you know? How to approach the game and everything like that. Memphis, they molded me into that, though. This whole program (and) everybody in this program has helped me grow as a man.”

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The Tigers have had three different defensive coordinators while Rubin has been in the program. FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre was the coordinator during Rubin’s freshman season. Mississippi State safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Matt Barnes led the Memphis defense in 2022 and 2023. Jordon Hankins, who has been the Memphis linebackers coach since 2021, is in his first year as defensive coordinator.

Hankins said he’s seen Rubin grow from a child to a man during his four years in the program.

“That’s the cool thing about a lot of these guys,” Hankins said. “In this age, too, you’ve got some guys who have been here for one year and guys who have been like Greg, who you feel like you’ve been coaching him for 20 years.

“Seeing him play all the different positions that he’s played, have all the different coaches that he’s had, and I’ve been here with him the whole time. … There’s a bunch of guys that have been here with me, and we’ve been here together for the last four seasons.”

Rubin has been making plays for the Tigers since he stepped foot in the program. When offenses targeted him as a true freshman, he responded by recording seven tackles and six pass breakups in his second career game against Arkansas State. Hankins reminisced about the game plan the Tigers had for him during that same season against SMU.

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“All those different memories are just in the back of your head on (Senior Day),” Hankins said. “And it’s for them, too. They think about everything. The last time they walk into that stadium, as many times as they’ve celebrated in that locker room. Coming out of that tunnel and that gate is rose, they remember all that stuff. It always is, but it’s really emotional when you get guys invested in what we believe in.”

The Tigers have used Rubin in several different ways in the last four years. After starting his career as a cornerback, Rubin eventually moved to safety and is currently in the hybrid “Tiger” position. His willingness to play whatever role is needed represents how he wants to be remembered.

“Just a guy that’s willing to do whatever for his team and his teammates,” Rubin said. “A hard-working and hard-nosed guy, (who) puts his head down and just works. Just a guy that’s just going to work regardless of what’s going on or what his role is. Just willing to do whatever for others.”

Memphis will need Rubin to help lead the secondary for two more regular season games and an 11th-straight bowl appearance. The Tigers haven’t been mathematically eliminated from the conference championship game, but advancing is highly unlikely. Memphis still has the chance at back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history. An 11-win season would be just the second time Memphis has won more than 10 games in a season. 

“Right now, my whole focus is finishing the season undefeated at home,” Rubin said. “I feel like that would be a great thing for me and all the seniors leaving. At least we can say we were undefeated at home going out.”