Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd will play in the TaxSlayer Bowl against Iowa on Jan. 2. Hurd missed the majority of the Vols’ final regular season game against Vanderbilt after exiting in the first quarter with an upper body extremity.

On Wednesday, news broke that the freshman was “arrested by citation” earlier this month for underage drinking. However, head coach Butch Jones confirmed Thursday that Hurd was disciplined by the program and will be ready for the Vols’ bowl game.

Despite missing the majority of his senior high school season following shoulder surgery, Hurd made an immediate impact on Tennessee’s offense, recording a team-best 777 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 174 carries. He added 33 catches for 217 yards and two touchdowns.

Even in his first season, Hurd was the Vols’ best offensive player in 2014. But despite his individual production, Tennessee’s rushing offense ranked No. 100 overall with 136.6 yards per game.

The Vols were thin at running back, with both Hurd and senior Marlin Lane battling injuries. Tennessee has even less depth after Derrell Scott’s decision to transfer after just one season with the program.

The Vols need Hurd to have a solid performance to earn their first bowl win since 2008. The freshman provides Tennessee’s offense with an elite rusher and adds to the productivity of quarterback Joshua Dobbs.

Both players have benefited from the other’s presence in the backfield. Hurd saw back-to-back 100-yard performances during Dobbs’ first two starts of the season. The mobile quarterback was the perfect complement to the Vols’ leading rusher on read option plays that fooled opposing defenses.

Hurd’s threat to run also helped Dobbs on playaction passes by fooling opposing pass rushes. However, with Hurd out of the lineup, Dobbs struggled against Vanderbilt and was held to 92 yards and two interceptions on 11-of-20 passing.

It’s clear that Tennessee needs the freshman in its bowl game on Jan. 2. Hurd should provide the Vols with a strong performance as he’s done throughout his first season.