Sorry, I forgot to include some of the expert evaluations. It's been a long day.
Draftbuzz; Excellent run defense, ball hawk, zone coverage, physical. (-) Below average speed, limited deep range vs vertical routes, better in zone than man, missed 9 tackles.
Brian Bosarge: 4.42 to 4.50 seconds in 40. 4.08 to 4.21 seconds in shuttle. 6.84 to 6.98 seconds in 3-cone. (+) Prototypical NFL size for modern safety. Ballhawk with outstanding vision to bait QBs. Former QB who reads routes and eliminates throwing lanes before they develop. Physical open field tackler. (-) Transitions and hip fluidity vs vertical routes. Aggressive eyes can be manipulated by play action or double moves.
Part 2: Strengths
When he stepped in as an injury-replacement starter in 2024, he played like a veteran who had already been a multi-year starter. Extremely surprising for a player who had never started and had received very limited playing time on defense prior to that point. He obviously didn't know that Sabb was going to get hurt, but when the opportunity presented itself, he grabbed the bull by the horns. I think it speaks to his work ethic and football character that he had prepared himself even though at that point in his career he was still a backup. Well-schooled in a pro-style defensive scheme. Used in variety of alignments, single high and split-field deep safety, in the slot or the box, used on run and pass blitzes. Some of the coverage rotations required him to run outside to replace the CB. Combination coverages where half the field was different from the other half. Good pre-snap communication with other defenders. He's like having a coach on the field. I think Hubbard has a chance at being a Day 1 starter in the NFL as a rookie.
Don't watch his highlights, watch the plays where "nothing" happens. Some of those plays impressed me more than the ones where he makes a play on the ball or the RB. Very polished and consistent with his footwork, hips, angle of his drops and positioning. If you just look at the route concept, the spacing and ask yourself where the S should be positioned, the depth, the body posture, etc, Hubbard is often perfectly in the correct spot, in phase with the route development. Hubbard is so precise with his fundamentals it is poetry in motion, a beautiful thing if you are a football purist. His tape was some of the most enjoyable to watch out of any of the players I've studied for 2027.
If it is a route combination where he has to respect the deep route but still switch down to help defend the intermediate route, his timing is precise to the millisecond. He stays deep enough to not get pulled out of position in case the QB is trying to bait him forward but immediately closes to the new threat when the QB has committed to the shorter target. Strong ability to multitask in zone, effectively juggling 2 different routes almost simultaneously.
As single-high safety, very good anticipation of throw vs intermediate route had him start to close gap before the QB even began to wind-up to throw. Against intermediate dig route, he's moving towards the receiver before the ball is out of the QB's hand. There's a triangle of defenders and he really should be the last of the 3 to get to the WR but since his anticipation is the best, he arrives simultaneously with the other safety. His effective range in zone is so much better than most DBs. When experts talk about him being a former QB and being able to read the play like a QB, that's exactly right, he can "play a game of chess" with the opposing QB at a level well beyond a normal safety prospect.
Elite awareness in zone coverage. Great eye balance scanning between the QB and all the potential receiving threats. Knows when to gain more depth, doesn't get caught out and let WRs get behind him. Wasn't fooled by double pass trick play, perfect positioning for critical 4th quarter INT. His instincts help to squeeze shut zone voids, discouraging the QB from testing his area of the zone. Against switch releases, he doesn't take false steps, he has calm and patient feet carrying the correct route downfield.
Offense designed a very tricky tunnel screen dressed up like a bubble screen to the same side, trying to pull defenders wide then throw it to a different WR to run towards the middle of the field. Hubbard reads it perfectly, he's not fooled, his eyes look at both the WRs and back towards the QB/OL and he diagnoses what the offense is trying to do. The screen pass tips off the fingers of the WR and because Hubbard is in a good position he nearly gets an INT on the deflection. I thought this "non-INT" was more impressive than the actual INTs he's had in his career. If he continues to make plays like that, the ball "will find him" and he'll continue to generate turnovers. Fans might think it is a lucky bounce, but it isn't luck. He's not standing there by accident; he got there because he was smart enough not to get tricked and moved out of position.
Pre-snap motion paired with outside zone play action. Hubbard isn't fooled, he knows what's up, he's all over the RB trying to sneak out into the flat after the play action, assignment sound.
His "football speed" is much better than his Combine 40 timed speed, because his anticipation and football IQ gives him a head start much earlier than most DBs move. He's multiple steps ahead of the action, closing down space so that he can make the tackle immediately after catches or jumping into passing lanes to contest the catch point. His range in pass coverage from single-high going sideline-to-sideline is much better than you'd think given his speed, because he has a running head start before the ball has left the QB's hand. He's a perfect example of how a 4.6 second S moving in the right direction is way better than a 4.4 second safety who habitually takes 2 steps in the wrong direction.
Great ball skills. Quick twitch leaper. Dug out low pass for an INT. If he hadn't chosen football, he might be playing college baseball as an outfielder right now.
Mature, yet aggressive in downhill run support. He quickly closes down the space to attack the LOS but arrives under control and patient. Has very good short area athleticism against the run. Breaks down well to prepare his tackle attempts and to adjust laterally to the runner.
Textbook tackler. Heavy thumper in the box, square and strong wrap-up tackles. Helmet up form tackle resulted in fumble where his helmet hit the ball. Heavy hitter at full speed, a heat seeking missile. Repeatedly came to the rescue of the defense with outstanding open field tackles in space vs RBs. Fantastic downhill attack vs gap run, slammed into pulling LT at the LOS to create roadblock right in the designated hole, constricting the opening for the RB. Good 1 vs 1 tackler in the hole vs RBs.
Maintains leverage vs the ball. Takes smart angles in run support and in downfield pursuit.
Timing and speed as blitzer, maintains disguise of blitz. Short area agility to finish sacks if the QB tries to evade.
Surprisingly physical and aggressive for his size. Not afraid of OTs. Not soft or timid. Physical vs bigger TEs when used as slot defender. Sets the edge more like a LB, stacking TEs at the POA with power and shedding them to tackle the RB. Physical jams. Destroyed WR block, then stuffed the RB.
Solid blend of functional athleticism and size. Average height. Excellent balance in pedal and fluid hips to swivel as he gains depth. Agility and hand usage to avoid rubs. Short area burst to close down speed out.
In interviews he's team-oriented and grounded but also very self-confident with NFL aspirations.
