Vols Football: Predicting Top 5 Playmakers in 2014
4. Jalen Hurd
Marlin Lane better take notice: Tennessee’s future at running back is sitting right behind him. PHOTO: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
The fourth player on this list hasn’t even taken a single official snap as a Vol, but his impact has already been felt throughout the fanbase. Jalen Hurd is one of the most heralded recruits to join Tennessee in recent years, and he might be the biggest difference maker of all the newcomers in 2014.
Jalen Hurd is a 5-star running back out of Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee. All Vol fans already know who he is and about his state record 3,357 rushing yards and 43 scores as a high school junior. They also know about his injury that ended his senior season after only one game. Vol fans were concerned his shoulder injury would impact his play and ruin the immense potential the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee possessed.
One glimpse at Tennessee’s spring game relieved those fears. Hurd looked just fine on the first and second team offense during the scrimmage, grinding out some tough runs and making defenders miss him on the way to 70 yards rushing.
If Hurd lives up to his billing, then that’s only the beginning for this high-profile freshman.
At 6-3, 221 lbs, Hurd has the body of a linebacker with the speed of a wide receiver. His athleticism is borderline freakish, and he is probably one of the hardest running backs to tackle that has ever walked onto Tennessee’s campus.
While it may have seemed like the Vols had a solid running game last season, a closer look at the stats tells a different tale. True, Rajion Neal ran for over 1,000 yards, but the team as a whole fell below the standard for Tennessee. The Vols finished in the lower half of the SEC in rushing yards, attempts, yards per carry, rushing touchdowns, and yards per game.
It’s imperative that Hurd have a solid freshman season for the Vols. Marlin Lane will likely be the starting running back, but Hurd will have plenty of opportunities early, and the two could end up splitting carries down the stretch. Given Lane’s injury troubles at UT, Hurd could even take over the starting role at some point this season if Lane goes down.
Hurd is one of the best talents to arrive at Tennessee in some time. He’s certainly one of the best looking running backs to don the orange and white since the 90’s, and he could be one of the most effective weapons on Tennessee’s offense in 2014.