Brock Huard’s 2018 NFL Draft preview: Georgia RB Nick Chubb

Apr 24, 2018, 2:01 PM

Nick Chubb was part of a 1-2 RB combination that took Georgia to the national title game. (AP)

(AP)

LISTEN: 2018 Draft Preview: Georgia RB Nick Chubb

Seattle Sports

Each day, Brock Huard is profiling a different draft prospect that he considers an early-round possibility for the Seahawks. His draft previews continue with Georgia RB Nick Chubb. The audio is embedded above.

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• Position: RB
• Height/weight: 5-11/227
• Class: Senior
• Hometown: Cedartown, Ga.

Scouting report: Chubb ran for over 4,000 yards in his four seasons with Georgia, and he teamed up with fellow draft prospect Sony Michel in the backfield in 2017 to give the Bulldogs a thunder-and-lightning combination that took them all the way to the national title game.

When it comes to size and power, Chubb fits the bill for what is successful in the NFL.

“You talk about a powerful runner, he’s built like a box,” NFL Network and NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Between the tackles, he’s as good as it gets. He’s got good vision, he’s got good contact balance. He does all the dirty work for the Bulldogs.”

Huard pointed to some recent NFL success stories as why Chubb could work out in the pros.

“The NFL game is not about playing out in space in the spread system,” Huard said. “Jay Ajayi and Jordan Howard, those guys will tell you, you gotta play between the tackles, and this guy certainly does.”

Brock’s take: “Like Drago, whatever he hits, he destroys.”

That’s right – Huard compares Chubb’s running style to the hitting power of the villain in Rocky IV. And with good reason.

“He’s a powerful, strong guy. Oklahoma wanted no part of tackling he and Sony Michel (in the Rose Bowl).”

While Michel is also a potential Seahawks draft target, Chubb may be the better prospect due to his size and strength.

“Here’s a little difference with Nick Chubb. He is a bowling ball. He’s 228 pounds that ran 4.52 (40-yard dash), actually a little tick faster than Sony Michel. He also jumped 38 ½ inches (in the vertical),” Huard said.

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Chubb may end up being too much of a bowling ball, however, and not be elusive enough to create separation out of the backfield.

“My concern, and you saw it in the title game, is just that initial wiggle,” Huard said. “In this league, it’s great to run between the tackles and be the strongest running back in this class. But I think we’ve learned in this league … you gotta have a little wiggle early.”

How he’d fit: There’s no question Chubb is built in the mold Seahawks general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll like in a running back.

“This is what John and Pete want. When it comes to a running back, give me the most violent (runner) in this draft,” Huard said. “Nick Chubb is on that short list.”

Dubbed a “tough north-south guy” by the NFL Network’s Mike Mayock, don’t expect Chubb to be too fancy with his running style. Sort of like a certain running back who was known to go Beast Mode at CenturyLink Field in the past.

The Seahawks haven’t shown a tendency to go after running backs early in the draft, however. The only running back they have selected in the second round or higher was in 2013 with Christine Michael, who saw his biggest success with Seattle after he was traded to Dallas, ended up on Washington’s practice squad and then came back to the Seahawks. They did much better with Marshawn Lynch, who was acquired via trade from Buffalo, and to a lesser extent Thomas Rawls, who was an undrafted free agent signing in 2015.