Doak Walker Award watch list 2017: 5 favorites to win
By John Buhler
Nick Chubb
Running Back, Georgia Bulldogs
It’s almost unfair the amount of tailback talent that will be coming back to the Georgia Bulldogs in 2017. Their two star running backs in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel declined to enter the 2017 NFL Draft to return to Athens for their senior season. While Michel projects to be the better pro of the two because of his pass-catching ability, it is Chubb that can lead Georgia to its first national title in 37 years.
Had Chubb not torn multiple ligaments in his knee as a true sophomore in 2015, he would have been a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft the first year he was eligible. After taking over for Todd Gurley as a true freshman in 2014, Chubb has been the most menacing runner Georgia has had since Herschel Walker.
Frankly, his 2016 season was a disappointment. It took a while for Chubb to regain confidence in his surgically repaired knee. It was a new coaching staff in place with a true freshman quarterback under center in Jacob Eason. Nevertheless, Chubb rushed for over 1,000 yards for the second time in his career.
To date, Chubb has 3,424 rushing yards for 29 touchdowns as Georgia’s star tailback. Michel is also on the 20177 Doak Walker Award watch list. They will split carries, so that might impact either player’s chances of winning a national award. However, they have the ability to be the best one-two punch Georgia has ever had at running back in one season.