Sooner or later, the rest of the college football world will learn what Alabama fans already know about Bray Hubbard. The dude can play ball! Alabama's star safety was one of two Crimson Tide defensive backs to make this offseason's PFF College 50. Hubbard came in at No. 15. Sophomore sensation cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. was No. 38. There should have been more Alabama guys, but it is what it is.
While Hubbard's elite ball skills, vision, and overall steadiness had him approaching the top 10, there seems to be something else at play driving him to greatness. He is an instinctive player we are talking about, one who thrives in both run-stopping and pass coverage from the defensive backfield. It may have something to do with the position he played in high school. The former quarterback is in his bag!
This part from PFF's blurb on Hubbard set the tone why he is getting better with every snap he takes.
"His vision as a former high school quarterback is evident on tape," Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick wrote for PFF. "His seven interceptions over the last two seasons are the most among returning safeties in college football."
Hubbard is not the first former quarterback to be converted into a safety, nor will he be the last. Going from running the offense to holding court in the back end of the defense is nothing to sneeze at. You still have to make big plays when the game requires it. Even more importantly, you are the last line of defense. Nothing can get past you. Hubbard has been so adept at keeping everything in front of him.
As the game slows down for many players, football clearly slowed down for Hubbard a long time ago.
PFF explains the cerebral nature to Bray Hubbard's game leading Alabama
While Hubbard was athletic enough to transition from quarterback to safety at the college level, it is his cerebral nature playing defensive back that will get him drafted. There may always be concerns about his physical upside, but NFL teams would be foolish to overlook his student mentality. Being able to see the ball and then get the ball is never a bad thing for a safety. It is his bread and butter.
Although it remains to be seen what he can do at the next level, Hubbard is crushing it in the SEC. He is arguably the best player on Alabama's best single unit. That means something. More importantly, he is the guy co-defensive coordinators Kane Wommack and Maurice Linguist can trust to get the guys lined up correctly on defense. Kalen DeBoer needs to be focused entirely on offense this year.
As the offseason accolades start to pile up for Hubbard, none of that will matter if the Crimson Tide do not take care of business during the early part of their schedule. This is where coaching matters. Better yet, this is where on-field coaching matters. For Alabama to stay undefeated heading into the Georgia game, the Crimson Tide will need Hubbard to be an on-field coach for the entire defense.
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In time, Alabama could develop a no-fly zone in the back end of its defense. The Crimson Tide have the pieces to do so. Their biggest questions are how well the defensive front-seven will hold up, who will start at quarterback, and whether this team can finally run the football again. It is all about gaining confidence, just like Hubbard has done with every passing snap he has seen playing on this defense.
To wrap this up, a quality team can never have too many smart players. There may be players on this defense who are more fleet afoot that Hubbard could ever hope to be on his best day. They may not see the game in the same manner he does. If he can help elevate the play of his teammates such as Lee, Zabien Brown, and Keon Sabb, there is no telling how dangerous Alabama can be in the playoffs.
Alabama has its stars in its defensive backfield, but Hubbard is the straw that stirs the drink for them.
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