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Cleveland Browns believe Nick Chubb is perfect running back for AFC North Division

The Cleveland Browns believe Nick Chubb is the perfect type of running back to play in the AFC North Division.
Credit: Kirby Lee
Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) celebrates after scoring on a 50-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2018 Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns made a concerted effort to improve their backfield during the offseason with the signing of free-agent Carlos Hyde, and they continued the overhaul by selecting former Georgia rusher Nick Chubb with the 35th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft last Friday night.

In Chubb, the Browns see the perfect style of runner for competition in the AFC North Division, specifically toward the end of the season when the need for a solid rushing attack increases exponentially as the weather turns for the worse.

“An AFC North back is what I see,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said in his press conference following the 2018 NFL Draft. “I see a guy that is very physical, very tough. He can create runs on his own. Obviously, he had a really good career at Georgia, the No. 2 rusher in all of the SEC in his time there.

“This is a guy that if we are going to run the football the way that we plan on running it, you have got to have good backs. With him and Carlos and Duke (Johnson, Jr.), we feel like we have some guys that we can do that with.”

Despite sharing carries with Sony Michel, who was selected by the New England Patriots late in the first round last Thursday, the 5-foot-10, 225-pound Chubb rushed for 4,769 yards and 44 touchdowns on 758 carries in four years with the Bulldogs.

A native of Cedartown, Georgia, Chubb eclipsed the 200-carry and 1,000-yard marks in three of his four seasons “between the hedges,” and helped the Bulldogs reach the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game despite having a freshman quarterback at the helm of the offense.

“I have watched the AFC North for a long time, and I do know one thing: it is big, physical, between-the-tackles running-style football,” vice president of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith said. “You look at the backs that have come out of the AFC, they have all been big.

“When you play in this type of weather, similar to Green Bay and that kind of stuff, you have to be able to run the football. The days of one guy carrying the ball 30 times in today’s football really does not happen often. To have two backs that are quality, it is a great thing.”

Credit: Matthew Emmons
Georgia Bulldogs tailback Nick Chubb (27) runs with the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide against the in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Chubb began the 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with a career-high 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns on 219 carries during his freshman season.

After being limited to just 747 yards on 92 carries in his sophomore year, Chubb punctuated his collegiate career with back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons.

Chubb rushed for 1,130 yards and eight scores on 224 carries in 2016, and finished his career with 1,345 yards and 15 touchdowns on 223 attempts last fall.

In addition to his rushing statistics, Chubb accounted for 359 yards and four touchdowns on 31 career receptions for the Bulldogs.

“I have been a big fan of Chubb for a long time,” Highsmith said. “One thing about SEC running backs is when you play running back in the SEC, you have to be able to create between the tackles with your feet. You have to be able to play a physical style of football.

“Nick Chubb exemplifies that in his running style. Not only is he a great football player, a tremendous person, a tremendous individual and a tremendous leader, he exemplifies what we are trying to build in Cleveland. We want real guys. We want guys that like football.”

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