Is Nick Chubb a candidate for the 2015 Heisman Trophy?
By Brad Rowland
Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb is (already) very good at football. Chubb was one of the best running backs in the country as a freshman, rushing for 1,281 yards and 12 touchdowns despite being the “featured” back in only seven games, and that performance was enough to earn him All-SEC honors in 2014.
With that as the backdrop, there is already significant buzz about the 5-foot-10, 228-pound rising sophomore when it comes to the Heisman Trophy for the 2015 season.
Here is what the Huffington Post (written by Dave Miller) had to say about Chubb’s potential run at the hardware:
"Did you see the way he ran his freshman season? He will be the most intriguing running back in the SEC next year for a team that should compete for the league crown. Chubb looked like a veteran when he was inserted into the lineup after Todd Gurley’s injury and should continue to run with authority in 2015."
Then, ESPN’s Edward Aschoff included Nick Chubb among his early Heisman contenders from the SEC:
"With Gurley sidelined for the second half of the season, Chubb took off. Already impressing everyone when he came in to relieve Gurley, Chubb finished the season with seven straight 100-yard games (all starts), was second in the SEC with 1,281 rushing yards and tied for first with 12 rushing touchdowns. He also averaged a league-high 6.9 yards per carry. Chubb is explosive and powerful with his runs, and his vision is incredible."
Wrapping things up, Paul Myerberg of USA Today ranked Chubb sixth on his list for next season:
"Chubb and Samaje Perine, seen next on this list, are fairly interchangeable. Both are young backs coming off outstanding freshmen seasons. Both will be viewed as the top backs in their respective conference as sophomores. Both could put up similar numbers. Chubb gets the early edge thanks to Georgia’s potential as a team — the Bulldogs should be better than Oklahoma."
As you can see, there are at least three outlets already touting Chubb for the race, and with good reason. His 6.9 yards per carry average is simply outstanding, regardless of competition level, and Nick Chubb managed to outshine All-World recruit Leonard Fournette among SEC running backs. More than that, though, it is common knowledge at this point that Mike Bobo’s offense can support a Heisman-level rusher (i.e. Todd Gurley), and if the play-calling is willing to add to his candidacy, we could be in for a season where Chubb rushes for 1,500-plus yards.
Nick Chubb hasn’t quite burst onto the national scene to the level that Todd Gurley did prior to his final season in Athens, but the experts are certainly following him closely as 2015 approaches.