By Rubin E. Grant
At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, Cam Torbor is a physical specimen.
“He’s got SEC size,” Hoover football coach Chip English said of the Bucs’ senior linebacker.
So, it’s kind of hard to believe that Torbor didn’t start playing football until last year, even though he is the younger son of Reggie Torbor, who played at Auburn and in the NFL for eight seasons with the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, beating the New England Patriots.
“I’ve seen his Super Bowl ring a few times,” Cam Torbor said.
Even so, Cam Torbor was never really interested in football. He ran track when he was younger but quit after the sixth grade. His older brother, R.J. Torbor, was a track standout for the Bucs, a six-time state champion in hurdles and jumps who is now a freshman at the University of South Alabama.
Cam Torbor mostly played basketball. As a forward, he helped the Bucs win back-to-back Class 7A state championships in 2023 and 2024.
All the while, there were some encouraging him to play football, such as former Bucs assistant coach B.J. Brooks and Hoover athletic director Harley Lamey.
“They talked to me all the time about playing football,” Torbor said. “So, it came to me one day to give it a try.”
Torbor joined the Bucs’ football team as a junior. He was a reserve defensive end on the 2023 team. He moved to linebacker this season and became a starter.
“Physically, he can do anything he wants,” English said. “We started looking at him at linebacker and he did a good job of picking things up.
“He has the ability to use his hands to keep people off him and bring down people in the open field.”
Torbor said he has received plenty of instruction on making the transition from defensive end to linebacker.
“I’ve had a lot of help from coaches and my dad,” he said. “My dad watches me and then goes out in the yard and practices with me. He worked with me some in the summer.”
Reggie Torbor played linebacker in the NFL, so he’s a valuable resource. But Cam Torbor isn’t carried away with being the son of a Super Bowl champion.
“I don’t think about it,” he said. “He’s just dad to me. But if I need to know something, I’ve got somebody to ask.”
Torbor is rapidly becoming a playmaker on the Bucs’ defense. Two weeks ago, he made his first interception to set up a touchdown in Hoover’s 40-6 victory against Prattville.
Last Friday, Torbor forced a fumble that teammate Justyn Hartley picked up and returned 19 yards for the Bucs’ only touchdown in a 14-10 loss to Parker.
“He’s a polite, quiet kid who’s trying to learn to be a vocal leader,” English said. “He flies around and gets around the football all the time.”
Torbor now has an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
“I just run as fast as I can and run toward the ball,” Torbor said. “That’s all that matters.”
Defensive Wake-up Call
Since a 39-37 loss to Spain Park in the second game of the season, Hoover’s defense has allowed only 33 points in wins against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (35-6), Hewitt-Trussville (8-7) and Prattville, and the loss to Parker.
“Our defense has been playing really well,” English said. “The biggest thing is we simplified stuff so they can fully grasp what’s going on.
“Plus, I think they got embarrassed by what happened against Spain Park and took it personally.”
Torbor agrees with that assessment.
“The Spain Park game was a wake-up call for everybody on defense,” Torbor said. “We made a lot of mistakes in the first half of that game and couldn’t come back.
“We have changed since then. I think our defense as a whole has showed signs that we have the talent to be elite.”
That includes Torbor. A few colleges have taken notice. He’s gotten offers from UAB and West Georgia. English believes more offers will come as the season progresses.
“He has come in and learned now to play a new position,” English said, “plus, he’s a physical specimen and a great athlete.”
Torbor will look to continue to make an impact when Hoover (4-2, 3-0) hosts Oak Mountain (3-2, 1-2) Friday in a Class 7A, Region 3 game.
Torbor considers himself strictly a football player now. He has decided not to play basketball this season, so he can focus on the football recruiting process.
“I probably wish sometimes I started playing football earlier,” he said. “I would be more experienced. But I think it will play out all right.”
