Leonard Fournette: Nick Chubb is the best RB in the SEC
Leonard Fournette is regarded by many as the SEC’s best running back, but he disagreees. Fournette thinks Georgia’s Nick Chubb is, apparently, as he told reporters during SEC Media Days.
A smiling Fournette says he still believes Nick Chubb is the best running back in the SEC. #LSU
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 14, 2016
Fournette praised Chubb as the conference’s best running back at Media Days last year and held that stance on Thursday.
Leonard Fournette on saying last year that Georgia's Nick Chubb is the best running back in the SEC: "I still feel that way."
— David Paschall (@DavidSPaschall) July 14, 2016
Many debated which of the two running backs was the SEC’s best before Chubb’s season-ending injury in October.
Chubb had the edge as a freshman with 1,547 yards — second among SEC running backs — and 14 touchdowns to Fournette’s 1,034. But Fournette rushed for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2015, which is the most by a returning SEC player.
If Chubb is healthy, the debate could reignite in 2016. However, Fournette enters as the favorite coming off a stellar sophomore campaign.
Classy
As optimistic and confident as I am about Chubb’s return in ’16, there’s still a lot of unknown. If Chubb hadn’t been injured I think there’s a high chance he would have out-rushed Fournette last year. That being said, nothing but respect for Fournette. Hell of a player and a class act.
if Chubb hadn’t injured himself, he may very well have been the Heisman winner. No disrespect to Henry of course, just M.O..
If Chubb hadn’t been injured Mark Richt would still be the head coach of Georgia.
LF7 is pretty humble and respectful of his peers. I hope Chubb comes back the way we all think he will, like a BEAST!!
I’ll preface my rant with saying that Leonard Fournette is an amazing running back and athlete, and he obviously shows some humility. Fantastic young man. The following is not about Fournette; It’s mostly about how people constantly compare Nick Chubb’s stats incorrectly.
One thing that analysts always seem to forget to mention is that in Nick Chubb’s stats are skewed because he hasn’t been Georgia’s #1 back for a full season.
Freshman year, he was behind superstar Todd Gurley (NFL AP Rookie of the Year), who got a majority of the snaps until his suspension and subsequent injury. Of his 1,547 yards, 1,323 came in just 8 games as our lead back. Projected onto a full 13 game schedule as a lead back, that’s 2,150 yards rushing.
Sophomore year, he was injured on the first play against UT, the sixth game of the year. In the 5 games leading up to his injury, he had 745 yards and 8 touchdowns. At that pace, he would’ve finished the season with 1,937 yards and 21 touchdowns – assuming he didn’t have any breakout games against teams like Kentucky, Missouri, and Penn State.
If you combine the 8 games from freshman year with the 5 games from sophomore year (conveniently 13 games), he posted stats of 2,068 yards and 21 touchdowns. That’s more yards than Fournette’s 2015 season.
Just Sayin’… When Nick Chubb is playing… he’s the best in the SEC.
I don’t think you need to try that hard to prove Chubbs worth. He is an awesome back. But since you want to play the scenario, let’s play… lets play fair…
“If you combine the 8 games from freshman year with the 5 games from sophomore year (conveniently 13 games), he posted stats of 2,068 yards and 21 touchdowns. That’s more yards than Fournette’s…” 12 game 2015 season.”
I will repeat my earlier comment, “Chubb hadn’t injured himself, he may very well have been the Heisman winner. No disrespect to Henry of course, just M.O..”
disregard the ” mark at the end of season.
Good Call. I completely forgot that McNeese State game was cancelled and you only had 12 games. Fournette definitely would’ve put up some big numbers against McNeeese.
I don’t think he would have rushed for too much more than 100, he wouldn’t have played past the first quarter since the game would have been over by then.
I’ll rant with you but not about Chubb. Chubb didn’t start the season as the number two option or even the third, Gurley, Marshall, Sony, and then Chubb. Which is where my rant is directed, talent evaluation. How was arguably your best RB, at the worse evenly matched at #1 with Gurley, your 4th option? Looking at that & the long long list of recruiting misses made by CMR, & you’ve gotta be glad he’s gone!!!
Be nice to see the 2 square off in Atlanta
That could be one of the most watched games SECCG in a while.
Outside of his first TD celebration (and that’s being extremely nit picky) has Fournette given us anything to not like about him? He uses his star power to be very charitable and giving, he comes across as genuine and nice, not to mention he is a beast on the field. I find myself cheering more and more for him. Classy young man with the world in front of him.
Both are great running backs, hope Chubb heals up fully, love watching him run. Hog fans may hate me cause of the rivalry w/ LSU but everything that I read about Fournette can’t help but make me root for the guy, just seems like a classy dude. Good luck to both this season and looking forward to watching Fournette when LSU visits the Hogs, really enjoyed my time down in Baton Rouge last year, fun city and fantastic food!
there is no way to truly compare 2 backs on 2 different teams….think about it. they run behind completely different O-lines and they play different teams on different weeks! neither Chubb nor LF did much VS Bammer, and that’s because their D-line destroyed both UGA and LSU.
146 yards isn’t much?