Cat Scratch Reader
We’re counting down the days to the start of the 2025 season for the Carolina Panthers. As of today, there are an even 30 days separating us from the start of the regular season. That means today’s countdown piece is centered around #30 for the Panthers, Chuba Hubbard.
Hubbard joined the Panthers as a fourth round pick after a standout career at Oklahoma State that featured a 2,000 yard rushing season, much to the delight of former head coach Matt Rhule’s wife. He was somewhat underwhelming his rookie season and earned a lot of ire from the fan base. He finished his second season strong and has gone on to establish himself as a steady, solid back over the last two years. On top of that, he’s grown as a leader and been one of the more engaging players the Panthers have off the field. He’s been a culture setter.
This season will be a bit different for Hubbard. The Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks last summer to complement Chuba’s work in the backfield, but he was slow to return from an ACL tear and went on to tear it again within a couple weeks of his return. That left Hubbard as a rare bell cow back. The Panthers took another swing at a rotational partner for Hubbard by signing Rico Dowdle this offseason. It seems likely that Hubbard’s carries are going to decrease a bit, but he may benefit from an efficiency standpoint because of it.
Hubbard has been the best offensive player to wear the number 30 for the Panthers, but he has a long way to go to claim the best #30 ever throughout the history of the franchise. That distinction belongs to former safety Mike Minter. While he never earned any major accolades nationally, Minter was a beloved member of some all time Panthers teams. He headed the secondary from his safety spot for 10 years in the late 90s and 2000s and was the franchise’s all time leader in starts and consecutive games played at the time of his retirement in 2007.
