Physical profile always takes on added importance in player evaluations. While this may be true, there’s always a place for players who bring effort on every play and go the extra mile where others don’t. In truth, Kansas State edge rusher Wyatt Hubert doesn’t have the physical upside of other NFL Draft prospects. Nevertheless, his stubborn success as a producer is sure to earn the affections of at least one team this spring.
Wyatt Hubert NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Edge Rusher
- School: Kansas State
- Current Year: Redshirt Junior
- Height: 6’2 7/8″
- Weight: 258 pounds
- Wingspan: 77″
- Arm: 30″
- Hand: 10 1/8″
Tony Pauline’s Wyatt Hubert Scouting Report
Positives: Fourth-year junior who started the past three seasons and was a Senior Bowl participant in January. Hard-charging defensive front-seven player who gets the most from his ability. Breaks down well, displays good change-of-direction skills, and the ability to immediately alter his angle of attack.
Possesses a variety of moves with his hands protecting himself or getting off blocks. Fluid, gives tremendous effort, and plays with a non-stop motor. Rarely off his feet, gets out laterally, and consistently chases the action. Fires off the snap with an explosive first step out of a three-point stance and shows ability rushing the passer standing over tackle.
Negatives: Lacks outright pursuit speed chasing the action from the back side. Easily disrupted from plays by the initial block.
Analysis: Hubert grades out highly in the areas of hustle and competitiveness, but comes with average size and play speed. He’s small for defensive end and slow for stand-up linebacker, but his competitive nature makes him worth considering in the late rounds. Hubert projects as a situational pass rusher/special teams player on Sundays.
Wyatt Hubert Player Profile
Too much of the work done by NFL Draft prospects goes unnoticed. To even be considered in the NFL Draft is an honor, and it’s a precipice that takes countless hours and limitless energy to reach. Hubert is another one of those prospects who had to work for everything he has now.
Coming out of high school, Hubert was an unathletic, uninspiring defensive end prospect. He lacked the size to pose a threat from a two-point stance but lacked the speed and burst to slide farther out. Nevertheless, he was graciously given a chance to play Power Five football by the Kansas State Wildcats.
The lowly-rated three-star recruit accepted the offer and embarked on the next step of his journey in the fall of 2017.
Wyatt Hubert’s career as a Kansas State edge rusher
Hubert redshirted his true freshman campaign with the Wildcats. It was an expected move for the undeveloped edge rusher. What wasn’t expected, however, was how quickly he would develop into a starting-caliber player the next year.
In 2018, Hubert started seven of 12 games played as a redshirt freshman. Over that span, he logged 34 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, an interception, and a pass deflection. He was recognized as a freshman All-American, and things only picked up from there.
In 2019, the Kansas State edge rusher started all 12 games. Hubert increased his numbers across the board, earning 7.0 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. 2020 yielded similarly productive results for Hubert, who built on his 2019 campaign, amassing 8.5 sacks, 13.0 tackles for loss, a deflection, and 2 forced fumbles.
Hubert earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in both 2019 and 2020. In total, over three seasons, he registered 20.0 sacks and 33.0 tackles for loss. The Kansas State edge defender declared for the 2021 NFL Draft after his redshirt junior campaign. He also accepted an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Senior Bowl Performance
Wyatt Hubert’s red-hot motor was on display at the Senior Bowl in January. However, so too was his substantially lower ceiling, compared to the other prospects present. Here’s more on Hubert’s Senior Bowl performance from PFN’s American Team Practice Report.
“I’m a big fan of the motor Hubert brings to the table. He has a ton of juice off the line, and he has some underrated power to his game, which is even more impressive when you factor in his lacking length. Having said that, his length also limited his ability to win hand battles throughout the week, and Hubert isn’t quite a good enough athlete to compensate. Hubert’s energy prevented him from dropping too far in the ranks, but it’s clear he has a lower ceiling than other defensive linemen.”
Wyatt Hubert’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Hubert truly beat the odds in college. On the surface, he lacks the athleticism and length necessary to be a dynamic pass rush threat. Nevertheless, he was able to fulfill that role with the Wildcats. As inspiring as that story is, there is some doubt in regards to how his traits translate at the NFL level.
Hubert’s athletic profile is resoundingly disappointing. His Relative Athletic Score of 5.99 is decent, boosted up by terrific agility scores. However, Hubert lacks top-end explosiveness, and he’s also undersized. His 77-inch wingspan and 30-inch arms are both extremely small measurements.
At the Senior Bowl, he was at a clear disadvantage against longer offensive tackles, and his lower upside was visible compared to other edge rushers. Hubert’s motor is strong, but most of his profile fits the bill of a borderline-draftable player.
What is Hubert’s best role at the next level?
Despite Hubert’s limitations, his down-to-down urgency and effort may carry a lot of weight later in the draft, where many teams are searching for high-character depth. Hubert’s lacking length limits his ability to be a stable contributor in the run game, but as a situational pass rusher, Hubert might have some modest utility.
He doesn’t have much positional versatility, however. He weighed in at 265 pounds at the Senior Bowl, but if he’s any heavier, he’d potentially lose whatever athleticism he has.
For teams like the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and Cleveland Browns, who all need rotational depth on the edge, Hubert holds some value in Round 7. And other teams might have Hubert on their board at that point. That said, athleticism will bump Hubert down, and it will be up to late-round preference whether he’ll be chosen. From there, he’ll be tasked with beating the odds once again.
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