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Ranking the 50 best college football players for 2016

By Connor Muldowney

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past Auburn Tigers defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs past Auburn Tigers defensive back Johnathan Ford (23) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Following the footsteps of Todd Gurley before him, junior running back Nick Chubb looks like one of the top running backs in the SEC and, in my opinion, he’s been severely overlooked by the national pundits. Some even have Tennessee’s Jalen Hurd ranked higher than him as a SEC back, which I find to be utterly ridiculous.

Chubb had an outstanding freshman season, rushing for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns on an impressive 7.1 yards per carry. He also caught 18 passes for 213 yards for two touchdowns, showing his versatility for a 5-foot-10, 220-pound running back from nearby Cedartown, Georgia.

The bulldozer of a running back earned basically every possible honor as a freshman such as Freshman All-American, All-SEC First-Team and SEC Freshman of the Year. This kid burst onto the scene and there were some high hopes for him in 2015 before he suffered a devastating knee injury in Week Six on the first play against Tennessee. He missed the remainder of the year.

Just because he was out for over half the year doesn’t mean he didn’t impress in his short time of healthiness, posting 747 yards and seven touchdowns in essentially five games with an 8.1 yards per carry average.

Chubb could be a serious Heisman contender if he returns to full health and shows no real side effects of that knee injury. People keep overlooking the junior back, but that is a huge mistake.

Next: 12. Brad Kaaya

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