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Undrafted free agent offensive guard Chris Hubbard could see his reps increase a little bit in wake of Nik Embernate's injury.
Whether he gets on the field or not, one thing he knows is his high school teammate, Steelers' first round pick Jarvis Jones, will support him.
Mike Vernon wrote a feature in Friday's Post Gazette about Hubbard and Jones, who played together at Carver High School in Columbus, Ga. Hubbard had nothing but good things to say about Jones.
"He always had your back, like a brother," Hubbard told Vernon.
They train them well in Georgia. The pair helped lead Carver to a Georgia state championship their senior year in 2007. Hubbard, the lesser heralded recruit, still landed a Division I offer, playing, and eventually earning All Conference USA honors at the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
He's banging away with the Steelers now, united with Jones, as the two "work their tails off to be everything they can be," he said.
Hubbard joins a particularly noteworthy group of UDFA offensive linemen. Embernate had a shot at making this year's team before the injury, which is expected to cost him this season. Mike Golic Jr has a chance to make it as well. The Steelers have a particularly young starting group of offensive linemen, but with most of them having been drafted so highly, keeping that same group intact over the next few years seems unlikely due to financial reasons. The low-priced utility back-ups will eventually find themselves in an increasingly valuable position.
What that means for Hubbard and his future is unknown, but having the support of a old friend can only help.
More from Behind the Steel Curtain:
- Steelers Training Camp Updates
- The Steelers Prodigal Son
- Nik Embernate suffers major knee injury
- Steelers claim healthy defensive back off waivers for training camp
- Jets coach Rex Ryan considers Steelers coach Mike Tomlin one of his biggest rivals
- Steelers Day 6 training camp practice open thread
- Steelers GM Colbert says the offensive line's youth is a 'double-edged' sword
- Steelers LaMarr Woodley eager to get more pass rush opportunities
- An effective running game and how it translates to recent Super Bowl success
- Brace yourself: Mike Tomlin drawing 'fine line' between creating an edge and giving his players confidence
- Steelers Training Camp Recap: Live Wednesday from Latrobe for Day 5
- Shamarko Thomas looks to rebound from bite on play fake