Alabama’s defensive coaching staff is excited about what it is about to see with Bray Hubbard.
He is the one who will replace Keon Sabb at free safety as Sabb is recovering from an injury. Hubbard recorded nine tackles, including a team-high five solo stops, last week versus Tennessee. The second-year defensive back made some critical plays on third down to get the ball back to Alabama’s offense. A former four-star from Ocean Springs, Miss., Hubbard received praise from Kane Wommack for his performance. Wommack, the Tide’s defensive coordinator, said Hubbard did ‘a lot of good things.’
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The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder learned a lot from being under Sabb, but he’s prepared for this moment.
Colin Hitschler, Alabama’s safeties coach, said ‘no drop-off’ will happen with Hubbard on the field.
“From the moment I got here, they were teammates that pushed each other,” Hitschler said Wednesday about the relationship between Sabb and Hubbard. “They talked the game to each other at a high level. So when the roles reserved a little bit, Keon took Bray under his wing and said some things before he went on the field. They were on the field together for much of that game, and everyone has the same expectations that Bray is going to play to the best of his abilities.”
He has a workmanlike mentality and desires to win.
Alabama fans are about to see how Hubbard will impact this defense on Saturday versus Missouri.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
