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Overview:
HT: 6’1″ WT: 207
Chuba Hubbard was one of the most dominating running backs in college football this past season taking home numerous all-NCAA honors. Hubbard is a versatile back whose game profiles well at the next level as a change of pace back and potentially a workhorse.
*Note: Hubbard announced he is returning to Oklahoma State for his junior season. This report is still accurate, but is for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Critical Factors:
- Athletic Ability (6)
- Athletic ability is rare, as Hubbard displays rare straight line speed. Hubbard has a track and field background.
- His agility and balance are also above average, although his lateral agility in particular is not special.
- Mental Processing (5)
- He sees the defense well and is good at being patient yet decisive.
- He is a smart and patient runner, he is very good at finding the hole especially up the middle.
- He follows his blocks well, but also knows when the play is breaking down and can improvise.
- Competitive Toughness (4)
- He plays light so he does not seek contact, but he doesn’t shy away on short yardage downs either.
- He does slow down his play speed when he is readying himself to accept contact.
- He does not lower is shoulder to initiate or even accept contact like a true physical player, he puts his head down and covers the ball instead.
- Play Speed (7)
- His play speed is elite, he should be one of the faster backs in the league from day one.
- He does display the speed necessary to make plays and to get the corner on outside zone runs.
- Play Strength (3)
- Hubbard’s biggest weakness is that despite his respectable frame, he is also light so he gets very few yards after contact.
- He had enough strength to get the job done on short yardage plays in college against BIG 12 competition, it is unclear if he will continue to have success against NFL competition.
- Would like to see him gain confidence in his strength, hopefully as his body matures and he puts on weight in the league the strength will come.
Check out Hubbard’s tape from the Oregon State game!
Position Specific Traits:
- Vision/Create (6)
- Arguably Hubbard’s biggest strength is his ability to find a hole created by the offensive line.
- Hubbard is a one-cut back, he waits for his offensive line to open a hole on inside runs, identifies it and bursts through it. On outside runs he waits to get the edge on the defense and explodes up field.
- Finish/Yards After Contact (3)
- Hubbard’s success as a runner from play to play is based on how few hands get on him. Each game his best plays are almost always when he is untouched.
- Hubbard doesn’t make defenders miss in the open field with ease, and he also doesn’t initiate contact.
- The first defender that reaches him/the first contact is usually enough to bring down Hubbard. He rarely breaks a tackle and very rarely breaks multiple tackles.
- Passing Game (4)
- He is not heavily used in the passing game, part of that is due to offense utilized by Oklahoma State.
- He runs a solid route, as a running back his route tree on tape is limited.
- He stays with the route/doesn’t give up on his route when the play breaks down and often sets blocks for his quarterback on scrambles.
- Has natural hands, but is not challenged to make difficult catches often.
- Blocking (3)
- Willing blocker in pass protection, has experience blocking on passing downs.
- Lacks the size/strength to be an impact blocker, skilled defenders should shed his blocks with relative ease.
- As he puts on muscle/weight and works on his technique there will likely be improvement in his blocking ability.
Scheme/Fit: Hubbard is versatile enough to fit most offenses. He would be fit best in a zone run scheme like the one employed by the San Francisco 49ers. The way he sees the field makes him effective in the screen/short passing game so he would have a role in any offense in the NFL.
Negatives: The negatives are evident in the report; Hubbard’s blocking, yards after contact and physicality are all question marks. Each one of those issues stem from his strength. He has very good size and respectable weight, but he needs to put on more muscle to gain confidence in a more physical approach to his game.
NFL Player Comparison/Projected Round: Tevin Coleman — Round 3
I compare Hubbard primarily to former Indiana Hoosiers running back Tevin Coleman. When Coleman was coming out of college, the biggest knock on his game from evaluators was that his game was built too much on running in a straight line and that he lacked lateral movement. This same argument could be made for Hubbard, another elite college back who rarely, if ever, jukes or makes a move on the defender in the open field.
Coleman came into the league to be part of a tandem on the Atlanta Falcons with Devonta Freeman. After being coached up and further developing his game he would go on to be paid by the San Francisco 49ers to be their workhorse; then he became a highly effective part of a committee. Hubbard should see a similar future as a borderline workhorse with flashes of stardom but ultimately part of tandem or committee.
As always, we end on a high note, check out Hubbard’s highlights!
Jesse Shuter 