Cincinnati Bengals rookie Wyatt Hubert, a former star at Shawnee Heights and Kansas State, greets participants in Friday's Topeka Area Catbackers golf tournament at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In many ways, Wyatt Hubert's life has changed since he declared for the NFL Draft and was drafted in the seventh round by the Cincinnati Bengals.
But the former Shawnee Heights and Kansas State star still cherishes every chance he gets to return to his Topeka roots.
"I got back a few days ago, last Wednesday actually, and I've been relaxing,'' Hubert said Friday before playing in the Topeka Area Catbackers golf tournament at Lake Shawnee, just a few minutes from where he grew up. "Obviously, I'm still putting in a lot of work and staying in shape and studying my playbook and doing all of that Monday through Friday, but definitely Saturday and Sunday are relaxation days to just enjoy my time home and spend with my family and friends.''
Former Shawnee Heights and Kansas State star and current Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wyatt Hubert (middle) visits with Washburn Rural golf coach Jared Goehring (left) and one of his former Heights football coaches, Doug Holmes, prior to Friday's Topeka Area Catbackers golf tournament at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Hubert will report to the Bengals in late July, and at that point will turn all his attention on having a successful rookie campaign.
"About July 23 or 24 is when we report, so that gives me five or six weeks home,'' said Hubert, a first-team All-Big 12 first-team pick for K-State. ''The NFL season's a long season, a lot longer than college is, so I'm going to have to adjust to that.
"That will be the biggest transition, playing 20 games in a season versus playing 12 or 13, so I'm definitely enjoying my time home because it's going to be a long season, and hopefully a good season for sure.''
Hubert said he's been in a good place mentally since getting past the stress of the NFL draft process.
"It was super relieving,'' he said. "It was a crazy seven rounds and a lot of sitting and waiting. Obviously, it extended all the way to the seventh round until I was picked, but I was still super happy and super fortunate I was able to be picked by the Bengals.
"It was really stressful, a lot of anxiety running high, but I'm definitely happy.''
Hubert has already got his feet wet in the NFL with more than a month of mini-camps/workouts that began shortly after he was drafted.
"We got there and had rookie mini-camp and had (organized team activities) for about four weeks, I believe, and then a mandatory mini-camp with the whole team, so overall I spent about six weeks there in Cincinnati,'' he said. "It was really good because I got around the team, I got around the vets and learned a lot for sure.
"I'm super grateful and super blessed to be up in Cincinnati and be drafted by the Bengals. I love Coach (Zac) Taylor, I love my position coaches and it's a great place to be. Especially having three other defensive linemen drafted in our draft class, us four kind of have a tight knit, all being rookies at the same time, so it's definitely a good time and I'm glad to be there for sure.''
Hubert started 29 games at Kansas State, finishing his Wildcat career with 20 sacks and 34 tackles for loss as a defensive end, and is likely to be used in a similar position by the Bengals.
"The Bengals run a five-man front and a four-man front,'' Hubert said. "I've only been there six weeks, so I don't know if they're going to run more five-man front or four-man front, but mainly I'll be an standup outside linebacker.''
While looking forward to what lies ahead, Hubert is also trying to take full advantage of his off time, attending the Country Stampede country at Heartland Motorsports Park this week while also taking part in the Catbackers event.
Former Shawnee Heights and Kansas State star Wyatt Hubert takes a selfie with the entire field of participants before the start of Friday's Topeka Area Catbackers golf tournament at Lake Shawnee. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hubert admitted that he's not an accomplished golfer, but said Friday was all about having fun.
"Not really, but you know anyone can dress up like a golfer and act like a golfer and hit the ball,'' Hubert said with a big smile.
"I have a few family members golfing in this tournament and some old coaches and some old teammates. I was in town, so I figured why not come out and have a good time.''
