Chuba Hubbard was born on June 11th, 1999, in Edmonton, Alberta. He attended Bev Facey High School where he competed in track and field. As a Canadian Football running back, he completed 458 rushes for 6,880 yards with 82 touchdowns. Hubbard was named the league and his team’s MVP while being nominated to the all-Canadian First Team. ESPN.com and had him ranked as a four-star prospect, the #31 Running Back in the 2017 class, and the top player in Alberta. Rivals.com had Hubbard ranked as a four-star prospect as well and the #28 athlete in the 2017 class. 247Sports.com ranked him as the 23rd best Running Back in the 2017 class, and the top player in Alberta. Canada Football Chat had him ranked as the best Canadian High School Prospect. Runnin back Chuba Hubbard had shaped his career in Canada into one of possible stardom in American Football.
Canadian NFL Profile: Running Back Chuba Hubbard
University Achievements and Awards
After committing to Oklahoma State University, Hubbard was redshirted the first year so he could learn the American style of football. 2019 was his most dominant year, with 328 rushes for 2094 yards and 21 touchdowns. Hubbard also had 23 receptions of 198 yards with two punt returns of 42 yards. Hubbard’s 2020 season was marred by injuries. but he still completed 133 rushes of 625 yards with five touchdowns. Of players in the Big 12, his yards per carry and per game were ranked top-10. After completing his redshirted Junior season at OSU, Chuba declared for the 2021 NFL Entry Draft.
Hubbard received numerous accolades during his university tenure. He received the 2018 Russell Okung Award for the University’s outstanding newcomer. 2019 was Hubbard’s most dominant year, when he was nominated First-Team All-American, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist, Doak Walker Award Finalist, First-Team All-Big 12, Maxwell Award Semifinalist, and the OSU Bob Fenimore Award. In 2020, he was nominated to the Second Team All-Big 12, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, and the First Team Academic All-Big 12.
Draft Selection and Projection
Hubbard was selected in the CFL draft in the fifth round, 43rd overall by the Calgary Stampeders. The Carolina Panthers then selected him in the fourth round, 126th overall in the 2021 NFL draft after Julie Ruhle, the wife of Panthers Head Coach Matt Ruhle, sent a text with instructions for her husband to select him. The Panthers subsequently signed him to a four-year rookie contract worth $4,193,174. NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein had Hubbard as a fifth-rounder with a comparison to New York Giant‘s Running Back Devontae Booker.
While having good speed, hands, and vision, the Oklahoma State product has a lean body type that hurts his balance and ability to withstand contact and bodies up the middle. Hubbard’s best chance is to create paths outside of the congestion. His sudden explosiveness and patience will help him to escape side to side.
Upcoming Rookie Year
With 25-year-old Christian McCaffrey grasping the reigns of number one running back in Carolina, Hubbard could be able to become a complimentary number two or three. However, it is just as likely running back Chuba Hubbard tops out as a more of a depth option. Will the 2019 version of Hubbard emerge, or was that just a one-year hit?
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