Paul Hubbard began his Wisconsin career as just a track star. Now, two games into the 2006 season, it appears that he has succeeded in taking on a new role: football player.
Hubbard began his track career at Wisconsin quite successfully. He won the 2003 Big Ten indoor and outdoor long jump championship, and placed in the top six in both the indoor and outdoor conference triple jump events. His football career, however, was a different story. The walk-on received little attention from the coaches, playing behind stars like Lee Evans, Brandon Williams and Jonathan Orr, and was frustrated with his lack of opportunities. However, Hubbard soon realized that he still had a lot to learn, and that he needed to take advantage of the experienced players and coaches to succeed in the long run.
""My first year I was still a little immature, I was like, ‘I want it now',"" Hubbard said. ""Finally, I just decided that I want to take my time and learn from the guys that are here. They're going to teach us a lot of things and they have a lot to offer. I just need to take it in and absorb it.""
The 6'4"" wide receiver out of Colorado Springs, Col. has now received his chance, taking huge steps since the spring and eventually winning the starting job during fall training camp despite having just one career catch for four yards. He leads the Badgers with five receptions for 106 yards, and has evolved as quarterback John Stocco's No. 1 target thus far.
Hubbard is eager to step up to the challenge of being a go-to playmaker, especially after the loss of fellow junior receiver Marcus Randle El in late August to a knee ligament injury. He knows that the time is now for he and classmate Luke Swan, also a starter, to step up to the plate.
""Marcus Randle El is a great player, he's somebody you can build an offense around, he does everything right,"" Hubbard said. ""When he went down, that triggered a lot of things in people's minds, like ‘what are we going to do?' I sat there and I watched and I was like that's unfortunate, he's a really good friend of mine, but we've got to step it up. So we took on that role after that.""
Badgers wide receivers coach Henry Mason is impressed with the junior's progress, but both he and Hubbard know that there is still a long way to go. Although Hubbard was instrumental in the Badgers' 34-10 victory over Western Illinois last Saturday, it is not the four-reception, 87-yard performance that is on No. 19's mind.
""People come up and ask me how many catches I had. I say I really don't know, but I know I had three drops,"" Hubbard said. ""I want to focus on that and make sure I don't have any drops the next game.""
Mason noted that consistency is key in receiving confidence from coaches and fellow teammates, and maintaining the confidence within yourself.
""I don't like anybody to drop any balls,"" Mason said. ""Once the coaching staff and the quarterback trust that he's going to make plays, then he has opportunities to make more plays. To do that, he has to be more consistent. He's made a lot of improvement, he's come a long way, but we need him to come farther.
""Where he's come, the amount of work that he's put in, it's just tremendous. We just need for him to continue to come on, have some good things happen for him, and see where it takes him.""
Hubbard credits former teammate and current Tennessee Titan Orr with helping him in his personal development both on and off the field.
""I'd go to Jonathan Orr with all of my problems, not just football,"" Hubbard said. ""Even if he didn't have an answer right away, he would go home and think about it. He goes out of his way for us to make us feel comfortable.""
""I feel myself trying to be in his shoes, I try to mimic a lot of the things he did on and off the field.""
Hubbard's incredible athleticism and size, along with his great work ethic and attitude, should help his mimicking along very nicely.
