Alabama football safety Bray Hubbard stood wide-eyed near the 50-yard line in the first quarter against Wisconsin .
Quarterback Danny O'Neil pitched it right into the hands of the Crimson Tide junior, who got the pick that gave Alabama the possession needed for its first scoring drive of the 38-14 victory on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Hubbard, who faced criticism after Florida State for his effort (or lack thereof), reminded Bryant-Denny Stadium why he became a quick fan favorite last fall after a season-ending injury for Keon Sabb . He did it again with his second interception of the game.
Despite intending a pass for tight end Lance Mason in the third quarter, O'Neil hit Hubbard again to spark another drive that would result in a touchdown with 13:56 left to play in the game.
For the guy who was only a few years ago better known for being a dual-threat quarterback at Ocean Springs High School in Mississippi , the two grabs marked Hubbard's career-high.
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Hubbard, who played on both sides of the field during his varsity days, was able to recall grabbing a few picks in the last three games of his high school career.
He never swiped two picks in one game, though.
During the 2024 season, he had three picks over the course of the entire year, in which he notched a career-best 11 tackles at Oklahoma .
Hubbard recalled being "surprised," especially after recalling how the game moved in "slow-motion" when he got his first pick of the day.
"It's one of those ones, when they throw them right to you, those are the hardest ones," Hubbard said. "I guess the one in the red zone, the concept was star, so you got the seven cut, you got kind of like a snag into the running back going to the flat."
Before recording his second pick, Hubbard said he couldn't really see where Wisconsin's offense was exposing itself when coaches showed him plays on the iPad. He just knew that's what his coaches said, so he hit the field and did what was asked of him on the incoming corner route.
"We were in man, so he [O'Neil] tried to hit the seven cut on me and threw it outside. I kept my leverage, and that was it," Hubbard said.
Even on a career day, adding three solo tackles to his stat-line, Hubbard thought he could've been better.
"I wish I would've gotten some more return yards, but it is what it is," Hubbard said.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football SS Bray Hubbard breaks down career-high picks vs. Wisconsin
