The predicted weakness for Alabama football in the summer before the season started may be the biggest strength next season.
Kane Wommack, the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator, has guided the growth of several young defensive backs — including one who emerged in the absence of an injured veteran player. Bray Hubbard, a second-year player from Mississippi, got inserted into the Tide’s starting rotation versus Missouri. He came on in the matchup against Tennessee after Keon Sabb went down with a foot injury and played well. Hubbard, a former four-star in the 2023 recruiting class, has been more than a pleasant surprise in Alabama’s late push to get into the 12-team College Football Playoff. He’s brought a toughness and physicality on the back end that had the Tide rocking in the defensive backfield. Since he took over, Alabama’s created several takeaways and won four of its last five games with him as a starter. The 6-foot-2, 204-pounder learned a lot from Sabb, but took over when his moment came.
Hubbard has 48 tackles, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a team-high three interceptions.
He has been an unsung hero of this team and his preparation made him ready. Alabama’s secondary played possessed versus Auburn and Hubbard led the charge. The sophomore totaled four tackles and recorded an interception, robbing the Tigers of a trick play it tried to execute. Hubbard had his eyes in the right place and made a play in helping the Tide to a 28-14 victory.
Coach Kalen DeBoer said after the game that other players can learn from Hubbard’s preparation.
“He was just waiting for his opportunity and while he was waiting, he was getting ready,” DeBoer said about Hubbard.
“That is a credit to him, and I think there is a lesson for a lot of players that are young who are waiting for their time can take from what he did this year. He is a guy that plays with passion, but he’s a very heady player. He continued to develop the physical tools and the confidence, and we believe in him. He is really smart, he sees things, and every snap he’s playing he is getting better.”
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Hubbard has been great for Alabama all year and hopefully, the team gets into playoff so he can continue dominating.
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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.
