Third-Down Back Has Attention of Bears at NFL Combine

Laube wouldn't be the first New Hampshire running back with the Bears or even in the NFL.

"Jerry Azumah, he was a running back but then converted to cornerback," Laube said. "He was with the Bears for over a decade. So there's been a couple."

The other was Dalton Crossan, an undersized back who was with the Colts in 2017.

Laube patterns his game after other good pass receivers out of the backfield rather than past New Hampshire greats.

"CMC (Christian McCaffrey) is always that guy," he said. "Alvin Kamara, Austin Ekeler, I kind of base my game off of them, that versatile back. They are definitely three guys I see myself as."

There are receiving backs, but Laube does it like a receiver and not a back. In that respect, he might be a little like former Bears running back/receiver Tarik Cohen, though not as fast but bigger at 5-foot-10, 210 pounds.

"I think, compared to the backs now, it's like you're in the backfield, you can run routes," he said at the combine. "But for me, I'm able to put myself in the slot, out wide at the X, Z, H, and kind of able to play as a true receiver, and also as a true running back, also."

He morphed into this ability.

"Actually, I developed it through college," he said. "My coaches, any time any slot or receiver went down, and we had to get an extra receiver in there, I put myself in there, and just kind of developed that game."

Laube is not planning to get to a team and be a rookie starter carrying 225 times. He sees a niche situation as a self-proclaimed Swiss army knife.

"I think my role, especially the first year, I see myself on special teams," he said. "As a receiver, maybe a third-down back. So I'm kind of in that role where, wherever you put me, I'm going to make something of it."

In case anyone wondered, Laube's special teams prowess does include punt returner, something the Bears have struggled through since Cohen's season-ending injury and the departure of Jakeem Grant after 2021 as a free agent.

Laube averaged 12.5 yards per punt return with two TDs over the last two seasons on 34 attempts. He also returned kicks and wasn't bad at that, either, at 24.5 yards a pop for 90 attempts, including a spectacular 31.1 yards last year and 28.8 over the last two seasons.

His 40 times and other workouts will be watched with anticipation by some, possibly the Bears, at Saturday's combine starting at noon (NFL Network).

Coming from New Hampshire, Laube admits he had to answer some things for himself about going up against better competition.

He had a chance to transfer before his senior year and try it at a higher Division I level but decided against it.

"Once again, I truly thought we were going to win a national championship," he said. "We had each of 22 guys come back. I'm a team guy. That was my biggest goal there."

So the Senior Bowl gave him the chance and his statistics in the game did nothing to convince anyone but his week of practice against players from a higher level of play did.

"I think the biggest takeaway from that, was seeing if I'm able to compete against the best of the best, and just saying, 'hey, like, am I ready for it?'

"And I think I kind of showed I'm able to play that kind of caliber and show everyone I truly belong."