All Eyes On Bradley Chubb
All 32 teams had a representative at NC State's Pro Day, and all of their eyes were on Wolfpack senior defensive end Bradley Chubb.
New England head coach Bill Belichick was on hand, but he could only tell Chubb that he'd be selected well before the Patriots drafted at No. 31. That didn't prevent Belichick from being hands-on with Chubb and the rest of the defensive linemen during drills. Having a coach like Belichick attend Pro Day says a lot about the current crop of draft prospects and the Wolfpack program.
"He's one of the most respected coaches in the game, one of the best coaches," Chubb said of Belichick. "Him giving me tips and pointers on how to do a drill, him knowing my name and shaking my hand, it's definitely a humbling experience.
"It's a huge step for the program. We came in and we were 3-9 the year before, and my class wanted to change the culture. I feel like we did that toward the end of my career. Just to see where the program is right now, it's definitely fun to see."
Checking in at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, Chubb did not run the 40-yard dash again, but he did do the short shuttle and go through his positional drills. Chubb, who worked out with the defensive linemen and linebackers, is projected to be a Top 5 pick in the upcoming draft.
"I just wanted to do this with my teammates that I started this journey with," Chubb said. "Come out here, do one last thing with them, and have fun with it.
"I never looked at it as I didn't have to come out here. I'm going through the same process they are going through, and I've never looked at myself as higher or better than anyone out here. Coming out here was something I was supposed to do, and I wanted to do it."
He told reporters after the Pro Day that over the next 24 hours he would have had in-person meetings in Raleigh with officials from five of the seven teams selecting in the top seven of the draft.
There is a ton of buzz related to Chubb and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts had the No. 3 pick but traded it to the New York Jets for the No. 6 overall pick and three second-round draft picks over the weekend. Chubb is well-aware that several mock drafts have him pegged to end up in Indianapolis, but he's remaining open to the process.
"There's a lot of teams," Chubb said. "All 32 at one point. I'm talking to a lot of the guys in the top 10 a lot more, but I've pretty much talked to all 32 teams.
"Last night I had a lunch around 1 o'clock, a dinner meeting around 5:00, and another dinner meeting at 7:30 with different teams within the top seven... I have two more tonight."Chubb reflected on his time at NC State and how the coaches have helped him reach where he is at.
"My time here was amazing," he said. "Coach Doeren and coach Hux, the coaches are always hard on you and always want the best from you. Just playing in that system my four years here has definitely been a big help."
Doeren certainly understands what Chubb has meant to NC State and how important this day is to his star player.
"Bradley is a two-time captain," Doeren stated. "He’s a great leader. He’s always gone about it with his work ethic and what he believes in. He didn’t need to do the testing things, which he didn’t do today but definitely got out there and was a part of the workout."
For Chubb, he understands that at this point he doesn't really have a lot of control over his professional future. The belief is he could go as high as No. 2 to the New York Giants and likely won't slip past Tampa Bay at No. 7, who had multiple officials at Pro Day and are in desperate need of a pass-rushing defensive end.
"I try not to look at it," Chubb said of the projections. "You never know what's going to happen until April 26th comes around. There's a lot of stuff, people can trade and do different things in free agency, so if you get too caught up in it, you'll get lost in it. I'm trying to do the things that got me here and stay close to my family and friends.
"I've seen my name with five different teams... it's all over the place... I've heard [Indianapolis] a lot more than other teams but it doesn't matter to me. Wherever I get drafted I'll be happy.
"I feel like I'm a top five caliber player, but if I get drafted seven or eight it doesn't matter to me."