One NFL team had Georgia running back Todd Gurley atop its 2015 draft board, and he ended up going 10th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, to the St. Louis Rams.
His replacement at Georgia, sophomore Nick Chubb, already is just as good, NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein says.
As a true sophomore, Chubb is ineligible for the 2016 draft. But that won't stop scouts -- and Georgia fans -- from being impressed by him this season.
Chubb (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) saw extensive playing time last season as a true freshman when Gurley was suspended and then injured. Despite five games with single-digit carries and another with 13, Chubb led the Bulldogs and was second in the SEC with 1,547 rushing yards; he tied for the league lead in rushing TDs with 14.
Chubb is a tough inside runner with good speed and carries a streak of eight consecutive 100-yard games into this season; he hit the 200-yard mark twice last season, including a 266-yard outing in a rout of Louisville in the Belk Bowl.
Chubb -- who was a consensus top-40 national prospect in the 2014 recruiting class -- also showed some ability as a receiver, with 18 receptions and two TDs.
Georgia is deep at tailback, but while Chubb is going to share carries, he still is going to be the lead dog. Georgia has perhaps the best offensive line in the SEC and unproven quarterbacks, which means coach Mark Richt and new coordinator Brian Schottenheimer should rely heavily on Chubb.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
