Chubb 'without a doubt' a Top 5 lock because of directional speed
Posted April 25, 2018 10:53 p.m. EDT
Updated July 13, 2018 1:50 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — Former North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb is expected to be drafted in the Top 5 in Thursday's NFL Draft, but at 6-foot-4, 276 pounds, former East Carolina University and NFL coach Steve Logan sees the 21-year-old shifting positions once he's in the league.
"I could almost see Bradley Chubb losing six or eight pounds and going to a 34 defensive front as an outside linebacker that's a 65 percent pass rusher and a 35 percent dropper, he's really athletic," Logan said.
"He's bulked up because he's had his hand on the ground the whole time (in college), so he's about as heavy as he's ever going to get."
The number of similarly sized (260-some-pound) outside linebackers that play in that base defense in the NFL now lead Logan to see it as a natural transition.
Plus, Chubb's ability to move around on a defensive front makes him an attractive prospect on the line or at linebacker (which some teams asked Chubb to work out at leading up to the draft).
The mobility, though, is the reason Logan still believes Chubb is "without a doubt" a lock for being one of the first five players taken Thursday despite not seeing the former member of the Wolfpack as a "freak," like some others in the NFL.
"I'm not sure that he's what I would call a 'game changer,' a la Julius Peppers or Jadeveon Clowney, I don't see him that way," Logan said.
Chubb ran a 4.65 40-yard dash and an even-more-impressive 20-yard shuttle at 4.41 seconds. Timing linear speed is useless until matched with a directional speed "because football is a change of direction sport," Logan explains.
Chubb's ability to change directions stands out out film to the point that Logan says it wouldn't be a problem if his 40- time was a 4.85
"He's going to play his football in a phone booth anyway," Logan said. "It's going to be quick and short and explosive and getting around to the quarterback."
Chubb finished 2017 second in FBS play with 25 tackles for loss, fourth among FBS defensive linemen with 73 tackles and eighth in sacks (10). He captured the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player, and he also won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end.
Chubb, who played 502 of 574 possible snaps for the Wolfpack, also earned consensus All-America honors.
Chubb is likely one of several NC State players that will hear their names called over the next three days.
Other prospects include Garner native and standout running back Nyheim Hines, offensive tackle Will Richardson, defensive tackles B.J. Hill and Justin Jones, defensive end Kentavius Street, tight end Jaylen Samuels and offensive guard Tony Adams.
