The big difference? This one played in his final college football game.
Less than 24 hours after Ohio State put the finishing touches on a Cotton Bowl win over USC, Sam Hubbard did the expected and announced that he is foregoing his final year of eligibility and entering the 2018 NFL draft. Saying that he had fulfilled his childhood dream of playing for the Buckeyes, the defensive end wrote, “[n]ow, as a graduate of The Ohio State University, I believe I am ready to chase another life-long dream of mine, playing in the National Football League.”
— Sam Hubbard (@Sam_Hubbard_) December 30, 2017
Hubbard certainly bowed out in style as he was credited with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the win over the Trojans. The 6-5, 265-pound lineman finished his 2017 campaign with 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Following the 2017 regular season, Hubbard was named second-team all-Big Ten after being an honorable mention selection last season.