Nate Hobbs

{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Nate Hobbs

| image = Nate Hobbs (cropped).jpg

| caption = Hobbs with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021

| current_team = Green Bay Packers

| number = 21

| position = Cornerback

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|6|24}}

| birth_place = Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 0

| weight_lbs = 195

| high_school = Louisville Male

| college = Illinois (2017–2020)

| draftyear = 2021

| draftround = 5

| draftpick = 167

| pastteams =

| status = Active

| highlights =

  • PFF All-Rookie Team (2021)

| statweek =

| statseason = 2024

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 281

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 3

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 3

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 = 1

| statlabel5 = Pass deflections

| statvalue5 = 19

| statlabel6 = Interceptions

| statvalue6 = 3

| pfr = HobbNa00

}}

Nate Hobbs (born June 24, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was selected by the Raiders in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/draft.htm |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

College career

Hobbs was ranked as a three{{endash}}star recruit by 247Sports.com coming out of high school.{{Cite web |title=Nate Hobbs Recruiting Profile |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Nate-Hobbs-45572490/high-school-181186/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=247Sports.com}} He committed to Illinois on December 23, 2016.{{Cite web |title=Nate Hobbs 247 |url=https://247sports.com/player/nate-hobbs-45572490/ |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=247Sports.com}}

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 5

| height in = 11 3/8

| weight = 196

| dash = 4.48

| ten split = 1.58

| twenty split = 2.56

| shuttle = 4.17

| cone drill = 6.85

| vertical = 40.5

| broad ft = 11

| broad in = 3

| bench = 17

| arm span = 31 1/2

| hand span = 9 1/2

| wonderlic =

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1025034&DraftYear=2021 |title=Nate Hobbs, Illinois, CB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=October 4, 2021}}

}}

=Las Vegas Raiders=

{{external media

| video1 =

[https://www.raiders.com/video/watch-raiders-select-cb-nate-hobbs-with-no-167-pick-in-2021-nfl-draft Raiders draft Nate Hobbs No. 167]

}}

The Las Vegas Raiders selected in the fifth round (167th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Illinois CB Nate Hobbs selected at No. 167 by the Raiders |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/illinois-cb-nate-hobbs-selected-at-no-167-by-the-raiders |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Raiders.com}} The Raiders obtained the 167th pick as a result of trading guard Gabe Jackson to the Seattle Seahawks.{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Blake |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Raiders add another defensive back with Nate Hobbs from Illinois |url=https://www.silverandblackpride.com/raiders-news/2021/5/1/22414542/nate-hobbs-illinois-las-vegas-raiders-2021-nfl-draft |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Silver and Black Pride}} He was the 24th cornerback drafted in 2021 and also became the first cornerback drafted from Illinois to play in the NFL since 2010. He notably became the first of five defensive backs drafted from the same Illinois' secondary spanning from 2018 to 2020. Fellow cornerback Kerby Joseph was selected in 2022 with Devon Witherspoon, Quan Martin, and Sydney Brown following Hobbs and Joseph in 2023.{{cite web| title=Illinois Drafted Players| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/illinois/drafted.htm |access-date=January 6, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

==2021==

{{see also|2021 Las Vegas Raiders season}}

On May 17, 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Hobbs to a four–year, $3.78 million contract that includes an initial signing bonus of $303,052.{{cite web | title=Raiders sign fifth-round pick CB Nate Hobbs | website=Las Vegas Raiders | date=2021-05-17 | url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-fifth-round-pick-cb-nate-hobbs-2021-nfl-draft | access-date=2024-12-26}}

Throughout training camp, he competed against Keisean Nixon and Amik Robertson to be a backup cornerback. Hobbs unexpectedly surpassed 2020 first–round pick Damon Arnette on the depth chart and was subsequently named as the third cornerback on the depth chart to begin the season, behind starting cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Trayvon Mullen.

On September 13, 2021, Hobbs started in his professional regular season debut and made two solo tackles in a 33–27 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. In Week 6, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (six solo) during a 34–24 victory at the Denver Broncos. On December 5, 2021, Hobbs recorded nine combined tackles (four solo) and made his first career interception on a pass thrown by Taylor Heinicke to wide receiver Terry McLaurin in the Raiders' 15–17 loss against the Washington Football Team. On December 20, 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders placed Hobbs on the reserve/COVID-19 list. On December 25, 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders activated Hobbs from the reserve/COVID-19 list. He finished his rookie season with a total of 74 combined tackles (51 solo), three pass deflections, one sack, and one interception in 16 games and nine starts.{{cite web| title=Pro-Football-Reference: Nate Hobbs stats (2021)| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HobbNa00.htm |access-date=February 15, 2025| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} He received an overall grade of 80.1 from Pro Football Focus and earned a coverage grade of 78.0.{{cite web| title=Bounce-back candidates for all 32 NFL teams in 2024| url=https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-bounce-back-candidates-all-32-nfl-teams-2024|access-date=February 15, 2025| website=PFF.com| author=Bradley Locker| date=May 24, 2024}}

The Las Vegas Raiders finished the 2021 NFL season second in the AFC West with a 10–7 record and clinched a Wildcard spot. On January 15, 2022, Hobbs started in his first career playoff game and recorded eight combined tackles (three solo) and one pass deflection during a 19–26 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wildcard Game.

==2022==

{{see also|2022 Las Vegas Raiders season}}

On January 31, 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders hired former New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach. The Raiders' new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham named Hobbs and Rock Ya-Sin as the starting cornerbacks to begin the season.

In Week 2, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) during a 23–29 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. On October 10, 2022, Hobbs made nine combined tackles (six solo) before exiting in the third quarter of a 29–30 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs due to an injury. On October 17, 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders officially placed Hobbs on injured reserve after he suffered a broken hand.{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Sam |date=October 17, 2022 |title=Raiders Place CB Nate Hobbs On IR |url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2022/10/raiders-place-cb-nate-hobbs-on-ir |access-date=May 14, 2023 |website=Pro Football Rumors |language=en-US}} On December 3, 2022, the Las Vegas Raiders activated Hobbs from injured reserve after he missed six consecutive games (Weeks 6–12).{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2022 |title=Raiders activate CB Nate Hobbs from injured reserve |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-activate-cb-nate-hobbs-from-injured-reserve-nfl-week-13-transactions |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=Raiders.com}} He finished the 2022 NFL season with 72 combined tackles (57 solo), four pass deflections, a forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one sack in 11 games and 11 starts.{{cite web| title=Pro-Football-Reference: Nate Hobbs stats (2022)| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HobbNa00.htm |access-date=February 15, 2025| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} He received an overall grade of 60.9 from Pro Football Focus in 2022.{{cite web| title=PFF reveals 1 contract move Raiders need to make before training camp| url=https://justblogbaby.com/posts/raiders-nate-hobbs-contract-extension-pff|access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=justblogbaby.com| author=Austin Boyd| date=July 22, 2023}}

==2023==

{{see also|2023 Las Vegas Raiders season}}

He returned as the No. 1 starting cornerback in 2023 and was paired with Marcus Peters. On September 10, 2023, Hobbs started in the Las Vegas Raiders' season-opener at the Denver Broncos and collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (eight solo) during a 17–16 win. He was sidelined for four consecutive games (Weeks 4–7) after injuring his ankle.{{cite web| title=Cornerback comeback: Nate Hobbs' return could be big for Raiders| url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2023/oct/27/cornerback-comeback-nate-hobbs-return-raiders/ |access-date=February 15, 2025| website=lasvegassun.com| author=Case Keefer| date=October 27, 2023}} On October 31, 2023, the Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels after falling to a 3–5 record. Linebackers coach Antonio Pierce was appointed the interim head coach for the rest of the season. On November 5, 2023, he made seven combined tackles (three solo), a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass thrown by Tommy DeVito to wide receiver Darius Slayton as the Raiders defeated the New York Giants 30–6. He finished with 86 combined tackles (59 solo), seven pass deflections, one interception, and one sack in 13 games and 11 starts.{{cite web| title=Pro-Football-Reference: Nate Hobbs stats (2023)| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HobbNa00.htm |access-date=February 15, 2025| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}} His overall grade for 2023 was 69.0 according to Pro Football Focus.

==2024==

{{see also|2024 Las Vegas Raiders season}}

The Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach Antonio Pierce retained Hobbs as the No. 1 starting cornerback and paired him with Jack Jones. In Week 6, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (four solo) during a 13–32 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On October 20, 2024, Hobbs recorded six solo tackles, one pass deflection, and intercepted a pass thrown by Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Tutu Atwell as the Raiders lost 15–20 at the Los Angeles Rams. In Week 9, he injured his ankle during a loss at the Cincinnati Bengals and subsequently missed the next four games (Weeks 11–14). He finished the 2024 NFL season with a total of 49 combined tackles (33 solo), five pass deflections, and one interception in 11 games and seven starts.{{cite web| title=Pro-Football-Reference: Nate Hobbs stats (2024)| url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HobbNa00.htm |access-date=February 15, 2025| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}

=Green Bay Packers=

==2025==

{{See also|2025 Green Bay Packers season}}

On March 13, 2025, Hobbs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web|title=Packers sign CB Nate Hobbs|url=https://www.packers.com/news/packers-sign-cb-nate-hobbs|website=Packers.com|date=March 14, 2025}}

Personal life

On the morning of January 3, 2022, Hobbs was arrested for driving under the influence. He was found by the police asleep at the wheel of his car on a parking lot exit ramp.{{Cite web |last=Gutierrez |first=Paul |date=January 3, 2022 |title=Las Vegas Raiders CB Nate Hobbs arrested on DUI charge hours after win over Indianapolis Colts |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32987257/las-vegas-raiders-cb-nate-hobbs-arrested-dui-hours-win-indianapolis-colts |access-date=May 13, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}

References

{{Reflist}}