Potential 2026 captain, preseason All-American to bypass NFL Draft, return to Alabama

Any time you can get a returning starter back - especially in the Transfer Portal era - it's a win for your football team. When that returning starter just so happens to be a likely 2026 team captain and potential preseason All-American, it's even better.

And that's exactly what Alabama got on Monday afternoon with safety Bray Hubbard announcing his return to the Crimson Tide next season.

His return was bigger than any of Alabama's portal additions so far this cycle, and bigger than any that are yet to come.

Bray Hubbard's return is massive for Alabama's 2026 defense

Hubbard had an outstanding season in 2026 for the Crimson Tide. Shaking off a rough beginning in Tallahassee, Hubbard totaled 74 tackles on his way to an All-SEC 1st team and All-American third-team honors.

Hubbard had a penchant for turnovers. He picked off four passes and forced three fumbles this season. He was a big part of the Crimson Tide's defense, which was the catalyst behind the College Football Playoff appearance. Hubbard had two games this season where he forced multiple turnovers. He picked off two passes against Wisconsin in September, and then picked off a pass and forced a fumble in Alabama's Iron Bowl win in November.

Hubbard wasn't one of the four team captains this season, but was essentially the fifth captain. He served in the role during Tim Keenan's early-season injury absence. He's a safe bet to be a team captain in 2026, which will culminate in his hands in cement at Denny Chimes a year from now.

And there's no player who deserves that designation more than Hubbard. He could have gone to the draft this year and probably been a day two pick. Instead, he returns to Alabama in search of a National Championship. His final game being the Rose Bowl blowout to Indiana never sat well with him, and now he'll lead the charge to rectify it.