This off-season, the Ottawa Redblacks have found themselves busier than usual after having to go out and get a new head coach and put together a new roster. With CFL free-agency still not among us, the Redblacks have been able to find some young football players to play for them in 2020.
On December 10th, the Redblacks released the names of 7 players who will make their ways to Ottawa for the 2020 training camp, one of which was wide receiver Justin Hobbs.
Hobbs is a 6’4, 230 pound receiver from Tulsa university. The 23 year old receiver had put together a solid background at university and is excited to come to Ottawa. He mentions in a text message “It feels great (to be signed) and I’m ready to get to work!”
Standing taller than the usual receiver, he is a good comparison to the former Redblacks receiver Juron Criner who stood at 6’3 or even the current Ottawa Redblack Dominique Rhymes who is 6’4. The two receivers who played in Ottawa had success in using their big body to go up and attack the ball and Hobbs should be able to do the same here in Ottawa.
Hobbs isn’t just a big body, he is also an explosive athlete off the release. In the 5 seasons he spent at Tulsa, he was able to get in the mix starting 39 of 50 games where he was able to show what he’s got to other coaches and fans.
In the years 2014-2018, Tulsa’s wide receiver core was well balanced where they totaled for an average of 2,892 yards as a group per season. In the years, Hobbs found himself as a number 2 and 3 receiver under both Keyaris Garrett and Joshua Atkinson who both tallied up consecutive 1,000 yard seasons.
As a receiver in the group, Hobbs put together 176 catches for 2,546 yards and 12 touchdowns in his tenure at Tulsa. Along with the numbers he put up, he was able to make a name for himself, in 2017, the coaches in the American Athletic Conference voted him in as a second team all-American.
As of now, Caleb Holley, R.J Harris and Dominique Rhymes are all pending free-agents. These were the Redblacks top three receivers one year ago, and if one or two of them leave for another team, the team will be safe to have Hobbs as a number 2 or 3 receiver.
CFL free-agency opens on February 11th at 12:00 pm EDT and we will be able to see what’s in store for the Redblacks receiving core and even whats next for Justin Hobbs then.
JZ MEDIA 