NFL Draft Prospect of the Week: Bradley Chubb (again)

This is not the first time Bradley Chubb has been featured on this list and it is doubtful it will be the last time. Chubb has had some dominant performances this season, but had one of his best games yet against Boston College last weekend.

Against a Boston College team that has gotten more dangerous on offense this season; Chubb posted five solo tackles and four tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks. To put a cherry on top, Chubb also forced a fumble on one his sacks. A truly dominant performance.

For those keeping track, Chubb has now matched his 2016 sack (10) and TFL numbers (21.5) with two more games to go in the regular season. Another monumental moment, Chubb surpassed some guy named Mario Williams on Saturday as NC State’s sack leader. Now with 26 sacks during his career, Chubb is going down in school history.

Chubb’s dominant season has put him at the front of a relatively weak draft class. As a senior, he is a surefire first round pick (health permitting) and could easily be taken in the first 10 selections. It will be exciting to see Chubb play out the rest of the season, finish strong, and then go into the pre-draft process with a lot of hype.

Other performances of note

• Braden Smith, Guard, Auburn: Auburn pulled off a massive upset when they blew out the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday. While the domination was in every phase, it is hard to overlook how Braden Smith helped maul the Bulldog defense into submission. Auburn’s offense was humming and Smith’s incredible effort as a run and pass blocker was key in the Tigers’ big day.
• Bryce Love, Running Back, Stanford: The Washington Huskies defense is among the best units Bryce Love will see during his career and yet he was able to torch them in a 166 yard, three touchdown game. Love matched his career high for carries in a game (30) but was able to deliver as he single handedly took down the Washington defense. Love is now up to 181 carries for 1622 yards (almost 9 YPC) and 15 touchdowns. With three games left, at least, Love has a good shot at breaking 2000 rushing yards and breaking Stanford’s single season rushing yardage record (2,019).
• Calvin Ridley, Wide Receiver, Alabama: Alabama had quite the scare against Mississippi State last weekend but some clutch performances on offense and defense kept the Tide undefeated. Calvin Ridley had one of the best games of his career and easily his most productive game of the season when he posted five catches for 171 yards (a bonkers 34.2 YPC). Ridley showed off superior athletic ability, route running and strong hands as he was dominant at all levels of the field. Ridley is an older prospect and one that is underused in Alabama’s offense, but he is no doubt an exciting player who will have an immediate impact in the NFL.
• Maurice Hurst, Defensive Tackle, Michigan: Another regular on this list, Maurice Hurst turned in another dominant performance last weekend against Maryland. Maryland’s ground game never got cooking and their passing game was hopeless because of Hurst consistently being able to disrupt the line of scrimmage. Hurst has had a productive senior season and his consistency should put him among the top senior prospects for this year’s draft.
• Joshua Jackson, Cornerback, Iowa: For the third week in a row, Joshua Jackson rightfully earns a spot on this list. Even though Iowa could not beat Wisconsin, Jackson had TWO interceptions returned for touchdowns AND he forced a fumble. He scored all of Iowa’s points.... As a cornerback. For those keeping score, Jackson has five interceptions and a forced fumble in the last two weeks. So, on the season, Jackson is up to seven interceptions, 16 passes defended and a forced fumble. Not bad for the 6’1”, 192 pound junior cornerback. With dominant performances on a weekly basis, it would be strange at this point if Jackson decided to return to school.
• Rashard Fant, Cornerback, Indiana: Rashard Fant intercepted his first pass this season in a 24-14 win over Illinois. The 5-10, 180 pound senior may be a bit slight in stature but he has a big time game. He has broken up an incredible 52 passes in his four year career at Indiana and picked off five passes in the process. While he is not the classic turnover machine at cornerback, he is a feisty player who can make an impact against the run and is dependable in coverage. Will the NFL knock him for his size or see him for the complete defender he is?