Canadian Cowboy: Chuba Hubbard named Doak Walker award finalist for best RB in the NCAA

Photo courtesy: Peyton Aufill, Oklahoma State Athletics

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard was named one of three national finalists for the 2019 Doak Walker Award, given to the best running back in the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision.

Hubbard, a sophomore, is joined as a finalist by two juniors in Jonathan Taylor from the University of Wisconsin and J.K. Dobbins at Ohio State University.

Leading the nation in nearly every statistical rushing category, Hubbard has made a strong case to be the Doak Walker Award winner, as well as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

With two games remaining this season, Hubbard is on pace to finish with a top-10 rushing season in FBS history. His 11-game total of 1,832 rushing yards is greater than the 11-game totals of six of the past 12 running backs to win the Heisman Trophy since 1980.

Hubbard leads the FBS in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, yards after contact (via Pro Football Focus), all-purpose yards, all-purpose yards per game and rushes of at least 20, 30. 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90 yards.

When comparing Hubbard directly with the other two Doak Walker Award finalists, he leads the group in rushing yards, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns, explosive runs (20 yards or longer), yards after contact (via PFF), receiving yards, receiving yards per game, all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game, among many other statistics.

He also is the best of the three when it comes to the highest percentage of his team’s total offensive output, the highest percentage of his team’s all-purpose yardage, the single-game rushing high and the single-game receiving high, as well as several other categories.

The Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will cast a vote beginning on December 3 to select the 2019 award recipient, who will be announced live on The College Football Awards on December 12 on ESPN. The award will be presented at the 2019 Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet in Dallas on Friday, February 21.

In addition to outstanding performance on the field, candidates for the Doak Walker Award must have demonstrated records of leadership and exhibited the characteristics of sportsmanship and fair play associated with Doak Walker.

2019 Doak Walker Award Finalist Comparison

Rushing Yards
1. Chuba Hubbard        1,832
2. Jonathan Taylor       1,685
3. J.K. Dobbins             1,446

Rushing Yards Per Game
1. Chuba Hubbard        166.5
2. Jonathan Taylor       153.2
3. J.K. Dobbins             131.5

Rushing Touchdowns
1. Chuba Hubbard        20
2. Jonathan Taylor       18
3. J.K. Dobbins             15

Rushing Yards after Contact (via PFF)
1. Chuba Hubbard        1,152
2. Jonathan Taylor       1,037
3. J.K. Dobbins             894

Explosive Runs (20 yards or longer)
1. Chuba Hubbard        17
2. J.K. Dobbins             14
3. Jonathan Taylor      11

Receiving Yards
1. Chuba Hubbard        170
2. Jonathan Taylor       162
3. J.K. Dobbins             151

Receiving Yards Per Game
1. Chuba Hubbard        15.5
2. Jonathan Taylor       14.7
3. J.K. Dobbins             13.7

All-Purpose Yards
1. Chuba Hubbard        2,044
2. Jonathan Taylor       1,847
3. J.K. Dobbins             1,597

All-Purpose Yards Per Game
1. Chuba Hubbard        185.8
2. Jonathan Taylor       167.9
3. J.K. Dobbins             145.2

Percentage of Team’s Total Offense Output
1. Chuba Hubbard        35.0
2. Jonathan Taylor       34.7
3. J.K. Dobbins             27.4

Percentage of Team’s All-Purpose Yardage
1. Chuba Hubbard        34.2
2. Jonathan Taylor       32.1
3. J.K. Dobbins             25.0

Single-Game Rushing High
1. Chuba Hubbard        296 yards vs. Kansas State
2. Jonathan Taylor       250 yards vs. Iowa
3. J.K. Dobbins             193 at Indiana

Single-Game Receiving High
1. Chuba Hubbard        88 yards at West Virginia
2. J.K. Dobbins             58 vs. Wisconsin
3. Jonathan Taylor      48 yards at South Florida