2018 NFL Draft: Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard a safe Day 2 selection
Touted as one of the best defensive linemen in the country in 2017, where will Sam Hubbard be selected in the 2018 NFL Draft?
More: 2018 NFL Draft preview, player profiles and latest mock drafts
During Urban Meyer’s six-year tenure at Ohio State, he has continuously churned out NFL talent on the defensive line, much like he did at Florida. Players include Adolphus Washington, Michael Bennett, Noah Spence and Joey Bosa, are of which are currently in the NFL.
The next man to join this highly regarded group is defensive end Sam Hubbard. In his three years in Columbus, Hubbard recorded 116 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss and 17 career sacks. That’s not bad for a former high school safety.
His past season had pro scouts drooling over his potential in the NFL and the question rises: where exactly will he be drafted?
Strengths
Hubbard is a very consistent performer and is not one to have a monster game and follow it up with a poor performance. His motor is non-stop and has a great sense of situational awareness as well.
Although he’s not extremely quick, he makes up for it by using high-level hand violence and keeping his pads low. He also does a great job of sinking his hips and delivering the blow and very rarely misses tackles.
Weakness
Hubbard doesn’t really ‘explode’ of the ball and it is easy to pick up on tape. His athleticism isn’t as good as some of the other defensive ends in the draft. He will sometimes try to arc his way around tackles on pass rush, allowing the quarterbacks to step up in the pocket and find a possible seam.
Next: Latest 2018 NFL Mock draft post Combine
Draft expectation
Out of all the defensive ends in the draft, Hubbard might be the safest pick. He already has a body that’s made for the NFL, standing at 6-foot-5, 265 pounds and is a real blue-collar player. His best fit would be in your basic 4-3 defense as an edge rusher. There’s a very good chance Hubbard will be a solid defensive end in the league for years to come.