But Ironside said Chubb "knew what his mission was" as he attacked the rehab process.

"He was just on a grind after that," Ironside said. "He was doing what he could do to get back. It wasn't like he was moping for a while, was down and out for a while. It was just 'This is the path I've got to [take],' and he did it."

Chubb returned faster than Ironside could have imagined.

"Probably what sticks out the most is just his rehab and how quick he was back doing things and on the exercise bike," Ironside said. "He was just a machine getting back in shape. He worried about [his knee early] as a senior, and then once he got comfortable and got it out of his mind, he played really, really well."

Indeed, Chubb played well enough to earn a scholarship offer to NC State, become the Wolfpack's all-time sack leader and get drafted with the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

As Chubb now aims to rehab his left knee for the second time in his career, he has a path to follow during his recovery.

"For sure, it helps me know what mindset to have," Chubb said. "... I knew who was there for me that first time. The same people are going to be there for me this time. I'm just excited, like I said, to go along this journey and have everybody right there with me."

And Ironside said he doesn't expect the process or the outcome to be any different.

"I still think his family dynamic and who they are, what they are and how he was raised will play the biggest part," Ironside said. "I think he's handled the success very well … [and] he's been able to handle the downs. He's been there before. He wasn't a superstar; he wasn't a highly recruited guy. Things probably didn't go the way he would've scripted it, and he ended up being the fifth pick in the draft.