ESPN Ranks Chuba Hubbard as Third-Best Returning Back in the Country

It’s hard to be outraged about much after the White House press conference I just watched, but if you’re looking for something, ESPN doesn’t think Chuba Hubbard is the best returning running back in the country.

They have Travis Etienne (Clemson) and Najee Harris (Alabama) ranked ahead of No. 30 in their recent returning running back rankings.

Keeping the string of surprise returns alive is Hubbard, who was an absolute monster after contact in 2019. Hubbard recorded more yards after contact than all but 15 FBS running backs had in rushing yards in total. And when he was handed a hole from his offensive linemen, the Oklahoma State runner took full advantage of it with his burst and agility.

In fact, he finished the 2019 season with 15 runs that resulted in a gain of 30 or more yards, which was four more such runs than any other running back in the FBS. He’s easily a top-three returning running back, and he will undoubtedly be highly coveted by NFL teams come April 2021. [ESPN]

I’m not overwhelmingly angry about Chuba being third. Here’s a blind resume test.

328 carries | 2094 yards | 6.4 YPC | 21 TD
207 carries | 1614 yards | 7.8 YPC | 19 TD
209 carries | 1224 yards | 5.9 YPC | 13 TD

That’s Chuba, Etienne and Harris in order. Etienne’s YPC number is a complete and total joke at 7.8 (!), but Harris’ numbers are a little more suspect. Chuba had 120 more carries, a much better YPC and came within striking distance of doubling him up on total yards.

Like Etienne, Harris was another surprise return for 2020, given that he was also one of college football’s top running backs in 2019. Harris produced the fourth-highest PFF rushing grade from 2018 through 2019 and was an explosive play waiting to happen. Over the past two seasons, Harris picked up a gain of 10 or more yards on 22.7% of his carries, the third-highest rate in college football and far and away the best in the SEC over that span. He’s a top-notch receiver, as well, and caught 27 of his 28 catchable targets for 304 yards and seven touchdowns (five of which came in the red zone) while breaking 11 tackles after the catch last season. [ESPN]

Whatever, I guess I get it. And it’s nowhere near as egregious as what Pro Football Focus tried to pull with this best returning player nonsense.

Reminder that Chuba Hubbard won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year last year… and is returning https://t.co/6sBzjtMK9E

— Marshall Levenson (@MarshallLevy14) March 10, 2020

? CHUBA IS 2X AS GOOD AS SAM EHLINGER AND TEXAS REMAINS NOT BACK!

Anyway, thought this was an interesting thing I saw over the weekend as it pertains to Oklahoma State. You’re going to see a lot of these little tidbits over the months leading into the 2020 college football season (if there is one) as we try and pass these quarantined days with all the #content we can muster.