Three Years of Chubb: A look at Nick Chubb’s UGA career

Believe it or not, three years have passed since Nick Chubb originally committed to Georgia.

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Chubb was heavily recruited out of Cedartown High School, but, on June 11, 2013, he declared his allegiance to the Bulldogs.

“Georgia is a place I feel comfortable, where I feel like I want to raise my family and live the rest of my life,” Chubb said in an interview with ESPN after committing to Georgia. “So going to the university will help me out with that.”

A lot of things have changed around the Georgia program during those three years. Most notably, head coach Mark Richt was fired and replaced by Kirby Smart after last season. Stars like Todd Gurley, Chris Conley and Malcolm Mitchell have moved on to the NFL, and Chubb has become one of the key faces of the program.

Chubb is a star in the Southeastern Conference, bursting onto the scene early in the 2014 season. Gurley was suspended four games after violating NCAA rules by signing autographs. Enter Chubb.

The then-freshman was thrust into the starting role with Gurley out of action and he made the most of the opportunity. Chubb carried the ball for 143 yards and a touchdown in his first career start, which came at Missouri on Oct. 11, 2014 – only two days after news of Gurley’s suspension broke.

From there, the Bulldogs relied on Chubb to carry their offense. He finished the 2014 season with 1,547 yards on 219 carries, good for an average of over seven yards-per-carry.

Chubb scored 14 touchdowns and caught two more. He remained the foundation of Georgia’s offense even after Gurley returned from the suspension, as Gurley suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his first game back versus Auburn.

After the regular season, Chubb shined in the Belk Bowl against Louisville, which boasted one of the best defenses in the entire country. Chubb ran for 266 yards, the second-highest total for a Georgia running back in a single game behind Herschel Walker’s 283 yards against Vanderbilt in 1980.

He was poised to be one of the biggest attractions in college football going into the 2015 season. Chubb found himself on several preseason Heisman watch lists and the hype around his talents increased as he built a 13-game streak of at least 100 rushing yards.

Then it all came to an abrupt, gruesome end.

Chubb carried the ball on Georgia’s first play from scrimmage at Tennessee on Oct. 10. His left leg planted into the turf near the Bulldogs’ sideline and then he was pushed out of bounds, twisting and bending his left leg. He left the game and didn’t return.

In the days following the loss to the Volunteers, fans learned that Chubb had torn his posterior cruciate ligament and other ligaments in his knee. He had surgery to repair the damage and was ruled out for the remainder of the season. Chubb was forced to sit on the sideline and watch a season full of hope for the Bulldogs crumble away seemingly every week, culminating in Richt’s dismissal.

Now, Chubb is working his way back into action. He’s long resumed running and participating in practice, albeit without contact, which are good indicators that his recovery is going well.

There’s no way of knowing what the upcoming season holds for Chubb or the entire football team. What is sure, though, is Georgia fans are excited about his impending return to action. They’re as excited today to see him on the field at Sanford Stadium as they were when he first committed to Georgia three years ago.

Things have changed for Georgia football, but the fans hope he comes back and plays like the same old Chubb.