Nick Chubb could be playing final home game for Georgia

TOP DAWGS

Georgia junior tailback Nick Chubb is just 90 yards away from becoming the second leading rusher in Bulldogs history:1. Herschel Walker (1980-82) 5,2592. Todd Gurley (2012-14) 3,2853. Garrison Hearst (1990-92) 3,2324. Nick Chubb (2014-present) 3,1945. Lars Tate (1984-87) 3,017

ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia junior tailback Nick Chubb might be playing his final game inside Sanford Stadium this Saturday when the Bulldogs host Georgia Tech, and just when he started another streak of 100-yard rushing performances.

Chubb made 100-yard games the norm as a freshman and sophomore, compiling 13 straight over those two seasons before tearing three knee ligaments on the first play from scrimmage last year at Tennessee. This season opened with a 222-yard performance against North Carolina but also included an ankle injury in the fourth game at Ole Miss, and he didn't assemble consecutive 100-yard games until rushing for 101 on 23 carries two weeks ago in the 13-7 upset of No. 9 Auburn and 108 on 16 last Saturday in the 35-21 defeat of Louisiana-Lafayette.

His latest showing also included running away from Ragin' Cajuns defenders for a 49-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, marking the longest catch of his career.

"It means a lot," Chubb said of his late surge. "There have been some ups and downs this season, but you just take it day by day and week by week. We just need to continue to finish strong, and I think we're doing a good job of that."

Chubb's 13 consecutive 100-yard games matched the school streak attained by the program's greatest rusher of all-time, Herschel Walker, and the 5-foot-10, 228-pounder from Cedartown is only 90 yards away from becoming second to Walker on the school's career rushing chart. Chubb has rushed for 900 yards this year and for 3,194 yards in 30 career games (106.5 per game), and he would pass Garrison Hearst with 39 yards against the Yellow Jackets and would pass Todd Gurley with 90.

Walker's 5,259 career yards is not in danger of being caught by Chubb or anybody else in the entire Southeastern Conference, for that matter.

Whether Chubb returns for his senior year will become a prominent topic once Saturday's showdown is over. The Bulldogs (7-4) are bowl-eligible for a 20th consecutive season, and first-year Georgia head coach Kirby Smart could start visiting with juniors who have decisions to make as early as next week.

"I think the most important thing to them right now is doing it right for the seniors," Smart said. "Then there will be a time and a place to visit and gather information and not only educate them on the process but also help them with information that they are not privy to right now so that they can make the best decision moving forward."

Chubb has yet to play in a win over the Yellow Jackets. He was injured for last year's 13-7 triumph in Atlanta, and he rushed 25 times for 129 yards and a touchdown in the 30-24 overtime loss in Sanford two years ago.

CBS Sports ranks Chubb as the No. 8 running back in the 2017 NFL draft should he choose to make himself eligible, while Sports Illustrated has him at No. 9. CBS projects Chubb to go in the second or third round, but Pro Football Focus has Chubb listed behind only LSU's Leonard Fournette, Florida State's Dalvin Cook and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey at the position and has him as the No. 24 prospect overall.

"If this is my last game at Sanford Stadium, then that would be sad," Chubb said, "but who knows? Anything can happen."

Chubb's average of 4.9 yards per carry is well off his averages of 7.1 and 8.1 the past two seasons, but he believes he "definitely" has gotten better as the season has progressed, which could result in a win-win for the Bulldogs and his draft stock.

"It was exciting to see him run away from somebody," Smart said. "Everybody keeps asking, 'Is Nick OK?' I never saw him not confident in the knee. Everybody talks about his production, but I don't think that production is based on Nick. I think the production is based on a whole lot of other things - a new quarterback, his line, whatever the reason.

"Nick Chubb has been everything that I anticipated him being. He's a leader. He's tough. He never says a word or complains about anything. He's your ideal teammate."

Odds and ends

Smart told reporters after Tuesday's two-hour practice that former Bulldogs defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is serving as a consultant to help the defense prepare for Georgia Tech's triple-option. VanGorder, who was fired as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator in late September, coached against the Yellow Jackets last season.... Sophomore inside linebacker Natrez Patrick (shoulder) continues to be limited in practice, but Smart is not ruling him out for Saturday.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

Upcoming Events