Chuba Hubbard On Transitioning from Canadian Football and Redshirting at OSU

A few years ago, Chuba Hubbard was playing on a field with 24 players instead of 22. The field was bigger, people were motioning everywhere and the goalposts were at the front of the field’s 20-yard end zone.

Hubbard, a redshirt freshman from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, spent his high school days playing football under Canadian rules.

Here’s a video that can explain to you what that means much better than I could:

At Saturday’s OSU Media Day, Hubbard said the transitions between the two forms of football hasn’t been difficult for him, but he just had to learn a lot of the things an American high school player would have to.

“At first it wasn’t really that much different other than the field size, the players, used to be 12 now it’s 11, and the field goal posts, it wasn’t bad,” Hubbard said. “It was really just learning the playbook and blitz pickups and stuff like that. It was pretty much easy for me other than like in Canadian football we were able to motion to the line and stuff and move forward before the ball was snapped and here you’re not allowed to do that.”

Growing up, Hubbard said he watched more NFL and college football than the CFL, making the transition easier (sorry, Johnny).

Hubbard was an exciting recruit for OSU fans when he came out of high school thanks to his sprinting background. Hubbard, a four-star recruit, came in fourth at the IAAF World Youth Championships in the 100 meters and was a three-time national champion in the 100 meters at his age group.

Hubbard redshirted last season and has gained 17 pounds, filling out his 6-foot-1 frame.

“The redshirt season was really an eye-opening thing for me,” Hubbard said. “I obviously didn’t want to redshirt, but things happen. I think it’s the way you take it. If you just like slack and just say, ‘whatever, I’m a redshirt,’ or if you make the most of it, it really helps. I’m ready to have a great season.”

At Big 12 Media Days in Dallas, fellow running back Justice Hill pointed to Hubbard as being the most improved running back on the team entering the season. The Cowboys are stacked in the backfield with Hill, Hubbard, J.D. King and LD Brown. Each running back brings something a little different into the fold with Hill being elusive, Hubbard being fast and King being scary strong.

Hubbard said despite him tacking on the 17 pounds, he is still as fast as can be.

“It’s still there,” Hubbard said. “You’ll see.”