4 Carolina Panthers players who excelled under Steve Wilks in 2022

Chuba Hubbard – Carolina Panthers RB

• 2022 stats under Matt Rhule: 4 touches, 28 total yards, 0 touchdowns
• 2022 stats under Steve Wilks: 105 touches, 609 total yards, 2 touchdowns

After being the lead back following Christian McCaffery’s injury in 2021, Chuba Hubbard was being looked at as a potential bust. He struggled with balance before contact, maintaining his strength after contact, dropped targets, and patience in the backfield.

Hubbard led the team in rushing, but with a 3.56 yards per carry average and a catch percentage of just 67 percent, he found himself demoted to third-string running back in 2022.

In the five games under Matt Rhule in 2022, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy had four carries for 28 rushing yards, a fumble, and was relegated to special teams’ return duties. After Steve Wilks’ promotion, Hubbard returned to playing valuable snaps and became an integral part of the Carolina Panthers’ rushing attack.

In his ten games post-Rhule, the former fourth-round pick amassed 609 total yards on 105 touches, including an impressive 4.9 yards per carry. Hubbard saw his snap count increase from 7.8 percent to 41.8% with Wilks leading the charge.

Hubbard has set himself up to be a pivotal player on the 2023 rendition of the Panthers, regardless of who the head coach is.