Driving forward

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This article was published 11/06/2016 (3462 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Adrian Hubbard would like to earn back respect he thinks he deserves.

The 6-6, 260-pound defensive lineman isn’t sure where it was lost, but he’s not spending too much time looking for answers. The view in front of him is the focus, one that includes a vacancy on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive line he’d like to occupy.

It’s his motivation, but more on that in a bit.

Hubbard’s rear-view mirror is one illuminated with success.

The 24-year-old is a two-time national champion with the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he led the team in sacks, tackles for a loss and forced fumbles in 2012 while playing as a linebacker.

That year, he finished 6th in the SEC in sacks, 2nd in forced fumbles and recorded a sack in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game.

“The stats don’t lie — it was a good time for me,” he said.

He passed on his senior year and entered the NFL Draft in 2014, but despite his numbers — he was once projected to go in the late first round or early second — Hubbard’s name wasn’t called.

Prior to the draft, NFL.com listed Hubbard as one of the top controversial prospects alongside guys such has the embattled Johnny Manziel and former first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. The list noted that Hubbard “has a quirky personality, inflated opinion of his ability and carries a sense of entitlement that could be difficult to manage and require a patient positional coach… Has starter traits, but has yet to reach the impact level he thinks he makes.”

It’s impossible to say whether it affected his draft stock. There was a reported minor heart issue as well. Either way, the Green Bay Packers signed Hubbard as a free agent for the 2014 season, where he spent the year on the practice squad. Last year, Hubbard was cut in camp and spent the year outside of the game.

Hubbard said on Saturday that everyone wants their accomplishments acknowledged, but after his solid performance in his first CFL game, one that included a sack, Hubbard wasn’t focused on looking back.

“My dad has a saying that we don’t drive with rear-view mirrors in my family… we just keep everything in the front window,” he said. “(My performance) created a step for me to step on and just continue climbing the ladder.

“I did good. I’m moving on.”

Spending a year out of the game left a void inside Hubbard. He said playing football his whole life only led him to missing it while he wasn’t.

“I’m glad to be back out here with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers,” he said.

Looking forward, Hubbard wants to build off Wednesday’s game, one he said was by no means perfect, even with his personal successes.

“Everything I have to correct,” he said. “The player I had the sack on, I messed up. Even where there’s good things going on in your life, there’s always things you can do to do better to make it better.”

That’s music to the ears of head coach Mike O’Shea, who is expecting each of his players to improve upon their first pre-season outing.

“From that edge spot, that they can consistently get around the edge and get close to the passer, not just sacks, but disruptive plays where they’re close to the quarterback to disrupt his throw,” O’Shea said.

“(Hubbard) is a very athletic guy, very dynamic. One of the stories I heard, and I can’t verify it, but apparently he was slated to play gunner on punt team at one point with another team. That’s a big gunner. He’s pretty good in space.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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