2018 NFL Draft: Georgia’s Nick Chubb is flying under the radar

Georgia’s Nick Chubb had a lot of success at the collegiate level and looks to transition it to the next level. Where will he land in the 2018 NFL draft?

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Everyone knows Saquon Barkley is the top running back in this year’s draft class. However, there are still some pretty good running backs behind him that could be an asset to their future employer. Nick Chubb is one of those guys.

Chubb burst onto the scene his freshman year at Georgia. Replacing injured starter Todd Gurley, Chubb ran for nearly 1,550 yards and 14 touchdowns during the 2014 season. Unfortunately, a knee injury cost him the final seven games of his sophomore year and he did not look quite as sensational during his junior season. He returned to form for his last year as a Bulldog, rushing for 1,345 yards and 15 scores last season.

Strengths

Chubb has a very physical running style and one of his strengths is just that, his strength. Chubb had an impressive bench press at the NFL Combine earlier this year, putting up 29 reps, tying Barkley at their position for the event. In combination with his power, Chubb runs low and is good at barreling through would be tacklers for yards after contact.

While he is a good power runner, he is not just a run between the tackles kind of player. He has the speed to get to the edge. Once he gets into space, he is very tough to slow down. Finally one of his biggest strengths is his ball control. In the last two seasons, he lost three fumbles and all of those occurred during the 2016 season. Chubb did not cough up the rock once during his senior year.

Weaknesses

A big flag on Chubb’s profile is his injuries. He tore his PCL, MCL and LCL in 2015. Luckily his ACL stayed intact, but still it was a serious knee injury. There is potential for another one down the line. It took him a year to return to his freshman form, but his explosion and quickness is not quite there yet.

Chubb is a power runner and while he does have some speed, he is not going to be outrunning many defenders. He will also need to work on his blocking and receiving at the next level. He was seldom used as a receiver at Georgia outside of his freshman year. In the NFL, a running back who can catch is a big asset. If he wants to be an every down back, Chubb will need to improve his pass catching ability.

Draft Expectations

Chubb is a smart player and a powerful back. He should have a decent career at the next level if he can improve upon his weaknesses. At the NFL Combine, Chubb had a solid workout all around. He has the ability to be a lead back, but many teams may not be taking a hard look at him because of his injury setback in college.

Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Complete first round through Pro Days

Overall, Chubb is not an elite runner nor is he a flashy player. However he is solid in most attributes and will be ready to take on a starting role in the NFL.

Projection: Early third round