CB Karson Hobbs Embraces Growth in Push for Bigger Role at Notre Dame
Notre Dame cornerback Karson Hobbs is known for his big personality, much like fellow cornerback Christian Gray.
You’ll rarely catch either of them without a smile or a joke, especially around their teammates. But when the pads come on, both Hobbs and Gray get down to business.
Hobbs, a Cincinnati native, appeared in nine games during his freshman season but didn’t break into the cornerback rotation, despite the fact that Notre Dame was thin at the position after the first month, relying on essentially two scholarship corners.
Instead of getting discouraged, Hobbs used the lack of playing time as fuel heading into his first full spring in South Bend.
“I didn't expect it to go the way it did at all,” Hobbs explained. “I kind of blame myself just for lack of focus in terms of being detailed and my fundamentals in my playbook. I know since the day I got here, they always told me, you've got the talent to get on the field, but it's just how much you want to be on the field and the choices that you make each and every day to be great will determine your success.”
That maturity has been on full display this spring, which is why Hobbs is now competing for snaps at both cornerback and nickel. Hobbs hasn’t forgotten the challenge laid down by defensive backs coach Mike Mickens during his freshman season.
“Coach Mick's biggest thing for me last year was like, ‘Make me play you,’” stated Hobbs. “I feel like I was immature to the point where I would be good one day and the next day I might have an MA (missed assignment) or mess up.
“I think the transformation of that to this season is just a lot of maturity, a lot of growth. Watching other people have a lot of success, I want a part of that too.”
That coming-to-Jesus moment hits most players after their freshman year. Not everyone follows the rare path of instant impact like Benjamin Morrison, Christian Gray, or Leonard Moore, all of whom found success in year one at Notre Dame.
It’s natural growth, which Hobbs is experiencing.
‘It was just a reality check from college to high school that it doesn’t matter who you are, you got to do your job,” explained Hobbs. “I think also having some great vets, having B-MO and stuff last year just taught me a lot. I still talk to him every day.
“I feel like just perfecting my man-to-man technique, I think I'm playing the best coverage I've ever played in my life so far. I feel in a great spot with that. I just don't think last year, I felt like I could cover, but just again, immaturity and just having all the details.”
Few athletes are as open about that moment as Hobbs, but it’s a situation that plays out across all sports — and even in the classroom. That realization, which forces growth, hit Hobbs hard during Notre Dame’s game against Georgia Tech.
With Benjamin Morrison out for the season and Jaden Mickey no longer with the program, the Irish were thin at cornerback. Yet Hobbs still wasn’t part of the game plan. It was a humbling experience and one that made it clear he needed to mature and adapt.
“I thought that was the time where I felt best that it was going to be my shot,” stated Hobbs. “When I realized it wasn't, I wasn't ready for the moment. At the time, that was a pain that I couldn't forget. I think every day I come out here, this year, I never forget the way I felt.
“At the same time, I was very blessed and grateful to be on a winning team, a winning program, my dream school. I'll never forget the way it felt to have my dreams of what I wanted to achieve come short, and I'm going to make sure this year it doesn't happen.”
For most high school players, learning a college playbook is a shock to the system - a true welcome to college moment.
As a June arrival, Hobbs was already playing catch-up, and he had to get up to speed quickly just to complete in fall camp.
“At first, it was very confusing coming out of high school, never opening a playbook that big and then seeing curl flat drops, hook drops,” recalled Hobbs. “I never knew how to play anything other than Cover 3 and man. It was just new and being a hook dropper and quarter flat player, and it was a lot of things that it wasn't so much of learning, but understanding how to play it.
“It was getting really hard to translate in these fall camp practices. It's like I got different routes, concepts. I got Jaden Greathouse coming at me slants and then (Jordan) Faison running fade balls. When you got good receivers coming to you, your mind's got to think much faster than it was in high school.”
Playing cornerback requires a certain edge. Some might call it a bit of cockiness and Hobbs has no shortage of that. That confidence isn’t just for show. It’s a key part of what fuels his confidence and belief that he can play at this level.
“Top 1 percent on the team for sure,” Hobbs said when asked if he’s at the top of the team in athleticism. “No doubt. You ask guys other guys, they'll tell you, I'm not going to say too much. I'm going to let them tell you. They're gonna tell you the fastest. They know who it is on the team, but I'll let them get into that with you guys.
‘I think that's where I elevated the most - in the weight room. I put on 6-7 pounds. I'm 192 right now. And also can play nickel too.”
When it comes to confidence, Hobbs never lost it and entering Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game, the 6-foot-1, 192-pounder is as confident as ever.
“I've always been that way since I was a kid, but I would just say where it comes from now is just being able to prove it every day,” said Hobbs. “You go against the best receivers every day. I go against JG every day in one-on-ones.
“I try to call out JG most of the time and it's like you develop your confidence when you consistently prove that you can shut the best people down. It makes you feel like I'm supposed to be here.”
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