How Chuba Hubbard Reminds Mike Gundy of Barry Sanders

STILLWATER — It isn’t too often a coach calls his star running back “pretty” as a compliment.

On Oklahoma State’s 2017 roster, Hubbard was listed as a 6-1, 190-pound freshman. Entering only his redshirt sophomore season in Stillwater, Hubbard is now listed at 207, and it wasn’t at all comparable to the “freshman 15” other college kids add.

#BodybyGlass pic.twitter.com/Nr8GtDakKi

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) August 4, 2019

“Chuba looks really good,” Gundy said. “For me, or personally as a coach, you’re always really careful to step out there, but he’s about as pretty as they get. He’s about 208-210 pounds, and I don’t know how fast he is, but he’s really fast. He’s very determined. He’s very intelligent. He understands.”

"He's as pretty as they get."

You can tell Mike Gundy is expecting big things from @Hubbard_RMN this season. @CowboyFB pic.twitter.com/RZiUIayOSz

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) August 5, 2019

Going into last season, the Cowboys were without the star power of Mason Rudolph and James Washington, but did have a star in the backfield in Justice Hill. Hill left with injury early in Bedlam last season and didn’t return for the rest of the year, but Hubbard, who showed glimpses of what he was capable of throughout the year, took over.

Hubbard finished that Bedlam game with 104 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also broke the century mark in two of the final three games of the season, going for 134 yards in a win against West Virginia and 145 yards in a Liberty Bowl win against Missouri. That type of production late in the year has Gundy excited about what he has entering this season.

“When we lost Justice last year, it was difficult for us because we lost a great player,” Gundy said. “As I said earlier though, it benefited us because (Hubbard) had to play in some really key games. I’m also excited about watching him play. He’s really just kind of scratched the surface with his body and what he can do and what he can bring to the table. The area he has improved as much as any is just his leadership, his willingness to work extremely hard.”

The Canadian track star turned OSU running back is apparently also doing goat things in practice.

“One thing I noticed in practice yesterday, and I didn’t say anything about it, I just kind of watched it again today, and it reminded me of guys back when I practice: When he takes the ball in practice from the 40-yard line when we’re in a tag period, when we’re not tackling, he runs all the way to the goal line every time, and I haven’t seen that in years,” Gundy said.

“That’s encouraging. Now when we get back to how many steps a day he takes at practice, that could be a little bit of an issue, but I would rather back him off than have to kick him into the fight. We’re really excited about him at this point.”

Does that sound familiar? It should.

“Every time (Barry Sanders) ran the ball in practice, he sprinted to the end zone,” Gundy said. “We’d have to wait for him to come back. And we’d say, ‘Barry, hey man, you’re killing us.’ He wore himself out, and that’s why he slept all the time, probably.

“But the guy was a phenomenal competitor with a work ethic that was through the roof. He out-practiced everybody on the field and in the weight room. And that’s why he got to the point he did.” [ESPN]