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The Tennessee Volunteers head into the 2016 season with massive expectations as the favored team to win the SEC East, and one of the major factors in these lofty expectations is the play of running back Jalen Hurd.
Last season, Hurd rushed for 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns, as well as boasting 22 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Hurd also had nine games last season in which he rushed for at least 90 yards and closed out the season with three straight games of over 120 yards rushing. However, Tennessee fans need to come to terms with one thing about this talented player right now.
Hurd will not win the Heisman in 2016.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Hurd is going to have a great season and will be spectacular in the NFL one day. I watched him play several times when he was at Beech High School and was amazed even back then. In fact, the majority of his high school highlight tapes on YouTube are him picking up players from my former high school and swatting them away like bugs while he runs for a touchdown. He is an absolutely fantastic football player, and he continues to get better.
But winning the Heisman as a running back requires a player to be the workhorse back, and the Vols boast another talented running back in Alvin Kamara.
Kamara carried 107 times for 698 yards for the Volunteers last season and will likely see his workload increase in 2016. His big-play ability out of the backfield, especially as a receiving threat, makes him a dangerous option against some of the top teams in the SEC as this offense looks to open opponents up so that Hurd can do his thing between the numbers. Kamara’s – and to a lesser extent Josh Dobbs‘ – usage means that Hurd will not have the opportunity to put up the numbers necessary to win the Heisman as a running back in this era of college football.
That being said, Tennessee, Hurd and Kamara are all primed for a huge 2016. This team boasts veteran talent and depth at nearly every position on the field. So, although Hurd might not win the Heisman, this team has the potential to win the national championship.
And if you asked the fans and players whether they would rather have one of their own win the Heisman or win the national championship, they would pick the national title every time.
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