Chuba Hubbard one of Five Finalists for Walter Camp Player of the Year Award

Chuba Hubbard is one of only five finalists for the annual Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, given to the best player in college football regardless of position. Hubbard is one of only two running backs up for the award along with Wisconsin tailback Jonathan Taylor. LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, and Ohio State defensive end Chase Young round out the five finalists.

Only one Oklahoma State player has won the award since its inception in 1967, when Barry Sanders brought home the hardware (all the hardware, in fact) in his Heisman-winning 1988 season.

Hubbard finished the regular season at OSU ranked No. 1 in the FBS in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, all-purpose yards, all-purpose yards per game and yards after contact, among other honors.

Over the last decade, the Walter Camp Player of the Year award has gone to quarterbacks seven times since 2010. Only once has a running back won the award, when Derrick Henry did so in 2015. Linebacker Manti Te’o won the award in 2012.

Other running backs to win the award include Darren McFadden, Reggie Bush, Ron Dayne, Eddie George, Bo Jackson and O.J. Simpson.

Hubbard being one of five finalists could bode well for any outside chance he has to be named a Heisman finalist. Last year three of the five Walter Camp finalists went on to be Heisman finalists; the year before, it was the same number.

The expectation is that Hubbard may be on the outside looking in to win both awards — and likely on the outside looking in to be a Heisman finalist — but being included amongst the top five players in college football remains a tremendous honor.