College:  Alabama

Height:  6'5"    

Weight:  252

Positives 

Length:  Hubbard's length immediately jumps off the screen when watching his film.  At 6'5" he has a big frame with even longer arms which he extends well and uses to his advantage.  His understanding of how to use his length comes into play in the leverage game and helps him create space between offensive tackles and the potential to add even more weight and get bigger is something that will intrigue NFL teams.

Pass Rushing: Its his quick burst and first step that makes a player of his size and length so dangerous.  No doubt Hubbard is at his best with his hand in the ground surprising his blocker with quickness off the snap, and then using his strength to get into the backfield off the edge.  Hubbard has shown to balance his speed around the edge with brut strength using a bull-rush move to drive his opponent into the pocket complimenting his speed very well.  

Run Defense:  With his massive frame Hubbard holds his own very well at the point of attack using good knee bend then separates and sheds from his blockers with his long arms.  He has surprisingly quick closing speed for a player of his size and can penetrate into the backfield, proven by his 11 tackles for loss in 2012.  Hubbard always finished strong when he had his opponent in his grasp as he is a powerful tackler and doesn't shy away from being physical driving the ball-carrier backwards with his hits.  The fact that he shows good understanding of run angels as well adds to his resume of someone who understands some of the nuances of the game.    

Negatives

Tweener:  For most players this term is used as a good thing showing off their versatility and ability to rush both the passer and drop back in coverage.  Nick Saban certainly asked Hubbard to do both of those things at Alabama but Hubbard simply didn't look natural when he got out in space. 

He made a play here or there but his body of work in coverage left too much to be desired and after seeing him at the Senior Bowl I have no doubt he must play with his hand in the ground in the NFL.  His college film shows a player that was above average in both categories but never excelled at either. 

It looks moving forward teams will force him to fill out that big frame and focus on his technique as a defensive lineman with his hand in the ground which seems very raw at this point.  

Instincts:  To be fair Hubbard was asked to do things for the Crimson Tide that didn't maximize his natural skill set like moving backwards and roaming in space.  However, there are numerous instinces where Hubbard's pure football instincts come into question.  More times than not Hubbard showed slow reaction time and was hesitant to attack his opponent.  His athletic ability and closing speed often overshadowed this but is something that will need to be developed if he wants to see the field quickly at the next level.    

Motor:  A big bodied player yes, but Hubbard only shows flashes and is inconsistent when it comes to his athletic ability.  A lack of instincts could be to blame but the real problem may be Hubbard's lack of effort taking plays off.  Looking hesitant and playing with a lack of confidence are easy excuses for a player with big potential, but the fact is Hubbard may not have the motor that we all expect him to play with.  

NFL Comparisons

The way he was used by Nick Saban as a swiss army knife rushing the passer and dropping into coverage, Hubbard's long frame reminds of a poor mans Dion Jordan.  The problem is Hubard isn't as quick and doesn't show the ability to have the same success Jordan does dropping back in coverage and moving in space in the NFL. 

Because of this he will be forced to put his hand in the ground on an every down basis for the team that drafts him.  With his hand in the ground a Dantone Jones comparison from the Green Bay Packers seems fitting as Hubbard seems like a natural 5-technique defensive end in the NFL if he can put on enough strength during his transition.       

Draft Outlook

Hubbard's draft stock has been running on fumes for sometime now.  NFL teams are intrigued by his size, long frame, and the ability he showed at Alabama.  However, with an average 2013 season and a poor Senior Bowl showing Hubbard's stock is falling fast and this former fringe first round projection is expected to now fall past day two. 

Hubbard hasn't shown the ability to drop back in coverage like he did in college and now will be banking on his ability to fully convert to the defensive line.  His lack of true football instincts and high motor are big red flags teams have encountered since preparing for the draft.  To make things worse there are no signs of Hubbard making a splash at the combine with great numbers continuing the trend of his stock moving downward. 

The potential remains that Hubbard could be an effective lineman in the NFL and will be enough for one team to take a chance on him by the fourth round.  

Best Fit

Forget about him dropping back in coverage, at this point Hubbard will need to make a full transition to the defensive line after putting on enough strength and weight. 

After saying that, the options are still open for him to have success in both a 4-3 and 3-4 scheme with proper coaching.  Teams like the Chiefs, Patriots, and Saints are teams that are in need of defensive line depth and more importantly have the right coaching to maximize Hubbard's potential and turn him into a very productive player.