Debating which player is better is a common argument most SEC fans engage in with one another throughout the season.

After an exciting 2014 regular season, two running backs emerged from the season with many similarities (including a phonetically identical last name).

Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd and Kentucky running back Braylon Heard are important pieces to their respective teams as both the Vols and Wildcats continue to build up their programs and figure to see an increased role in 2015.

With that in mind, SDS thought it would be wise to settle which running back is the superior of the two.

The case for Jalen Hurd

Not many high school prospects came into college this season with the hype and expectations that Jalen Hurd had. A five-star running back, Hurd was a physical specimen at 6-foot-3, 227-pounds and had unusually electrifying speed for someone his size.

As an early enrollee, Hurd had the opportunity to break in with the Vols before many of his fellow 2014 recruits and it paid off for him in the end. The true freshman took over the starting role just a few weeks into the season and instantly became one of the Vols’ most relied upon offensive weapons.

Although he didn’t reach the end zone much — he recorded just three rushing touchdowns — Hurd racked up three 100-yard performances in his freshman season, the most since Tennessee legend Jamal Lewis.

Perhaps the best aspect of his first season with the Vols was the impact he had in big conference games. Hurd’s biggest performances were against SEC divisional opponents. All three of those 100-yard performances were against South Carolina, Kentucky and Georgia — two of which were crucial wins for Tennessee.

Even in the Vols’ tough early-season matchup against Oklahoma, Hurd didn’t disappoint with 121 total yards against the Sooners, just three games into his collegiate career.

Hurd may be overshadowed by other true freshman SEC running backs like Nick Chubb and Leonard Fournette, but the Vols have something very special in No. 1.

The case for Braylon Heard

Braylon Heard doesn’t see the same amount of reps that Jalen Hurd does, but the UK running back can have a similar impact in the time that he does receive.

After transferring from Nebraska and sitting out a year, Heard didn’t take long to make his presence known amongst Big Blue Nation. In Kentucky’s first game, Heard touched the ball twice but he made those touches count. The former Cornhusker took both rushes to the house, amassing 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just two carries.

His reps were inconsistent throughout the season thanks to the stable of running backs UK possesses. Guys like JoJo Kemp, Boom Williams and others demanded a share of the carries as well.

But Heard was still able to record the same amount of rushing touchdowns as Hurd and continue to provide depth for the Wildcats and one of the most important positions in the SEC.

Verdict

Despite Heard’s propensity to rattle off big plays, this competition isn’t close.

Jalen Hurd clearly has the most potential of the two and will be in the best position to reach that potential next season as the Vols’ starting running back. He’ll share some carries with JUCO transfer Alvin Kamara, but Hurd’s ability is legitimate and he has the frame to be a featured running back in the SEC.

Heard will once again be a primary option for Kentucky in the backfield, but it’s awfully crowded back there with other talented running backs. Will he still make big plays next year? Of course. But Hurd is certainly the more consistent of the two running backs, and therefore, it’s the true freshman that has the edge here.

Winner: Jalen Hurd