Sport
Carolina Panthers’ Chuba Hubbard has likelihood to wreck NFL file for Canadian avid gamers
Lengthy the usual through which Canadian operating backs are measured within the NFL, Rueben Mayes is hoping Chuba Hubbard can set that bar even upper.
In 1986, Mayes turned into the primary Canadian to hurry for over 1,000 yards in an NFL season, operating for a career-best 1,353 yards (over 16 regular-season video games) as a New Orleans Saints rookie.
On Dec. 8, Hubbard turned into the second one Canadian to crack the 1,000-yard plateau and wishes 159 yards within the Carolina Panthers’ ultimate two regular-season video games to surpass Mayes’ single-season mark.
“I’m cheering for him to do it,” Mayes mentioned. “I did what I did 38 years in the past and being the primary (Canadian) to do it, I believe a large number of satisfaction about that.
“However now it’s Chuba’s time. It (1,353 yards) is certainly inside of succeed in and I believe Canadians will have to be in point of fact proud to grasp there’s a homegrown participant who’s doing that on a large degree like that. The massive factor is to stick wholesome and have the option however Chuba is in place to do this.”
Now 61, Mayes, of North Battleford, Sask., performed within the NFL with New Orleans (1986-90) and Seattle (92-93), dashing for three,484 yards (four-yard reasonable) with 23 touchdowns. He was once the NFL’s best offensive rookie in 1986, went to the Professional Bowl two times (1986, ’87) and was once inducted into the Saints’ Corridor of Status in 2004.
Hubbard, 25, of Sherwood Park, Alta., has some paintings to do to surpass Mayes.
Carolina (4-11) finishes its season at the highway towards department opponents Tampa Bay (8-7) and Atlanta (8-7), which can be tied atop the NFC South and also have lots to play for.
What’s extra, Tampa Bay’s defence is ranked tenth towards the run (104 yards in line with recreation) simply forward of Atlanta (111.9).
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“He’ll must earn it,” Mayes mentioned. “Those are two just right operating groups and I realized after I performed that groups that experience just right operating video games are just right towards the run as a result of that’s what they practise.
“However I’ll be monitoring the place he’s. It’s roughly amusing, roughly thrilling to have interaction in that with every other operating again.”
Hubbard is coming off a 152-yard dashing efficiency in Carolina’s 36-30 extra time win over Arizona on Sunday that eradicated the Cardinals from playoff competition. Hubbard additionally scored two TDs, together with the sport winner in time beyond regulation on a 21-yard run.
That boosted Hubbard’s season overall to one,195 yards (4.8-yard reasonable) with 10 TDs. Ultimate month, Hubbard signed a four-year contract extension price US$33.2 million.
Carolina decided on Hubbard within the fourth spherical of the ’21 NFL draft out of Oklahoma State.
Mayes is these days the regional partnerships and philanthropy officer at Seattle Kids’s Health facility. He and his spouse of 37 years, Marie, have two sons, Logan (a senior monetary analyst for Amazon) and Kellen (a third-year clinical pupil on the College of Washington).
Mayes says he has no lingering results from having performed soccer.
“I’ve been so blessed, in truth,” Mayes mentioned. “I’ve had a few surgical procedures publish soccer, one from browsing … I tore cartilage in my proper knee and I’m a large skier and one time I harm my shoulder however now it’s wonderful.
“I’ve just right genes from my parents. My dad is 93 years previous. I’ve a large number of gratitude for my existence, with much more to head.”
New Orleans decided on Mayes within the 1/3 spherical of the ’86 NFL draft following a stellar profession at Washington State. Two times the Pac-10’s offensive participant of the 12 months (1984-85) and a consensus All-American (’84), Mayes set single-season (1,632) and profession (3,519) dashing information whilst additionally atmosphere a then NCAA file for single-game dashing yards (357 as opposed to Oregon in 1984).
As a junior, Mayes completed tenth in balloting for the Heisman Trophy, offered yearly to U.S. faculty soccer’s remarkable participant. He was once inducted into the School Soccer Corridor of Status in 2008 and Saskatchewan Sports activities Corridor of Status in 2022.
“My mindset after I performed was once at all times to be the most productive,” Mayes mentioned. “I sought after to be the most productive operating again within the NFL.
“I be mindful when we had coaching camp towards the Chicago Bears and I were given to satisfy Walter Payton in individual, who was once certainly one of my idols, and that 12 months I beat him in dashing and it was once adore it doesn’t subject should you’re from North Battleford, Sherwood Park or Toronto, Chuba can also be the most productive within the NFL and that’s thrilling.
“That’s at all times been my mindset, even lately, simply going for it.”
&reproduction 2024 The Canadian Press
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