Quarterback of the Defense: Bray Hubbard uses offensive mind to anchor Alabama’s secondary

Alabama junior safety Bray Hubbard isn’t taking anything for granted. He is entering the season as a full-time starter after replacing Keon Sabb, who suffered a season-ending injury against Tennessee last October. Hubbard, from that point forward, has established himself as one of the top safeties in the SEC.

The attention is similar to what he was accustomed to as a quarterback in his hometown of Ocean Springs (Miss.), where he was a two-time Mr. Football award winner. He was humble then as one of the final recruits in the ’23 class to receive an offer from Nick Saban during the Tide’s summer camp, as a Southern Miss baseball commitment. He’s exceeded expectations, in most circles, but Hubbard is still the same and noted how “honored” he was to speak in front of the media on Monday.

“I’m still the same guy, just now people really get to talk to me and see what kind of person I am,” Hubbard said. “I’m like this pretty much all the time. Just a cool, relaxed guy. You can even ask some of the teammates. I’ll get riled up every now and then, but not really much has changed for me. Just, you know, I’m ready for the season.

“I just love the game. Getting to come out here with my teammates every day and embrace the grind—that’s something that’s important to me. But also, I like the physicality part. Most people probably know, but I could have gone and played baseball. But I was like, nah.”

Hubbard’s position is much like playing quarterback, on the opposite side of the ball. He talked about understanding formations, receiver and running back alignments and where the offensive line sets. He was always looking for an advantage in understanding what was going to happen.

“They’re going to change it up on you sometimes,” he said. “They’re not going to give everything away. There’s going to be motions here, motions back there. But locking in on the details of what the call is and what Coach Wommack is calling based on what he sees—that’s something you really have to lock into.

“You get your call and you’re out there locked in on what are the moving pieces, what’s the formation, what’s the down and distance? Is it on the minus 50? Plus 50? That’s important to know. If you’re not ready for that, it’s hard to be successful in our back end.”

Alabama Football Preseason Coverage: Interviews, highlights, reports, takeaways and more

I will be a massive Bray Hubbard enthusiast in 2025 😤

2024 stats:

🐘 34 Yards Allowed
🐘 0 TDs Allowed
🐘 3 INTs
🐘 21.3 QB Rating Allowed
pic.twitter.com/w64KKgoVRv

— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) July 1, 2025

Alabama defensive backs coach Mo Linguist singled out Hubbard as one of the few players who has taken their game to the next level from what he’s seen in preseason camp, especially from a leadership role. Hubbard discussed the areas he focused and improved during the off-season.

“It’s just the small things of learning more technique-based stuff, whether it’s in man coverage, in zone coverage and also locking in on the details,” Hubbard said. “I know the calls. I know how to play the calls, but now it’s locking into the certain details of the calls to be able to create more takeaways and make plays.

“The part of being better in man coverage is something I’ve been really working on. I trust myself in man coverage, but there’s always room for improvement. And in the weight room, just getting bigger, faster, stronger—that’s always important. Making sure you’re healthy for however many games we have to play this season, hopefully all the way to the national championship. That’s important to me—making sure that my body is ready for the season.”

Hubbard mentioned the adjustment period from last year with a new staff, new defense and learning the principles of each play call in such a short amount of time. There’s a big difference this year, and even an added bonus in the defensive backs room after Jason Jones joined the staff to work with the safeties.

“We’re playing even faster,” the preseason All-SEC selection said. “Coach Mo and Coach Wommack do a great job of giving us a call and letting us go execute. The progress we’ve made from year one to year two is going to be really good. We have a lot of great players. We have a bunch of guys coming up that are developing and creating depth for the defense.

“Coach Jones has meant a lot. He’s a Tuscaloosa guy. He talks about it all the time. I love that guy. We’ve got a great relationship. He sends me texts every morning of podcasts he’ll listen to while he works out. The bond that he and I have, and really all the guys, is great. I’m glad to have him here. He brings a lot of energy, and he’s a great coach.”

The daily battles between Alabama’s wide receivers and defensive backs may rival any matchup in the country. “Iron sharpens iron,” as Coach Linguist said earlier this week. Hubbard has embraced the consistent challenge against the elite unit on the opposite side.

“They get us some days, we get them some days,” he said. “It’s always a back-and-forth battle. But you’ve got to embrace it. They make us better. We make them better. You’ve got Germie Bernard, who is kind of the leader out there. Isaiah Horton is doing a really good job. Ryan [Williams] is doing great. Cole Adams is doing a really great job.

“Rico Scott—everybody saw he hit 23.5 [mph]. I don’t think people realize how fast 23.5 is. That’s very fast. It’s a constant battle. You’ve got three receivers out there that are all 22-plus miles an hour. If you let them get over the top, it’s hard to catch up. So we’ve got to use our technique and use our help where it is. That group is tough to cover.”

Hubbard has seen the shift in approach from last season to now, and it starts with discipline. “Do your job and don’t try to force anything from happening,” he said. Alabama pressed too often last year, which led to explosive plays—something Hubbard now warns younger players about. “It’s a one-to-know mindset. So even if you have a bad play, focus on the next play. The most important play is the next play.”

That calm, focused mentality shows up on game day, too. While most players walk through the Walk of Champions with music blaring through their headphones, Hubbard keeps it low-key. He’ll listen to Koe Wetzel (country rock), but doesn’t need music to prepare.

“I tell people, if y’all need music to get ready for a game, y’all are crazy,” he said. “I’m ready as soon as Saturday hits. As soon as I wake up, I’m like, ‘Let’s go.’ I’m usually just sitting in my locker, chilling.”

Hubbard’s passion, off the field, is his second love: hunting. He cherishes the rare opportunities to step away from the bright lights of playing for one of the nation’s top football programs and as a college student. He took several teammates hog hunting earlier this year, calling it one of their best bonding experiences. With Alabama’s expectations sky-high this fall, Hubbard hopes the next trip won’t happen until late January, after the Tide makes a potential run at a national title.

Want to talk with the BOL staff and also thousands of other Alabama fans about all the latest team and recruiting intel? CLICK HERE to join daily conversations about the Crimson Tide and much more on the BOL RoundTable.