Tennessee freshman running back Jalen Hurd has enjoyed a stellar start to his collegiate career. Entering Week 5 with 209 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries, the former five-star prospect has emerged as the Vols’ leading rusher and feature back.

Hurd has seen a progression in yards each game, rushing for 29 in Week 1, 83 in Week 2 and 93 in Week 3. Against No. 4 Oklahoma, Hurd not only saw a season-best in yards, but also managed to average 6.93 yards per carry running behind a struggling, overmatched offensive line.

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It’s hard to imagine that Hurd has already exceeded expectations through three games given his hype as a potential savior for a downtrodden Tennessee program, but he’s done just that. Many speculated he would see a meager share of carries behind senior Marlin Lane early, but Hurd has held the edge with a 48-34 advantage in rushing attempts.

Coming off a bye week, Hurd will be tested in his first appearance at Sanford Stadium for the Vols’ annual matchup against SEC East rival No. 12 Georgia. The Bulldogs are coming off a 66-0 rout of Troy, following a disappointing upset by No. 13 South Carolina.

Georgia has the perfect compliment to the talented, young running back with a slew of linebackers in a 3-4 scheme. Amario Herrera has been Georgia’s most outstanding defensive player thus far. Herrera leads the Bulldogs in both tackles (24) and sacks (3.0) and should hold an advantage against a struggling Tennessee o-line.

Ramik Wilson is one tackle shy of tying Herrera as the Bulldogs’ leading tackler. Last season, Wilson led Georgia with 133 tackles, but had to work his way back into the starting lineup in 2014 due to an undisclosed injury. However, the senior has picked up where he left off and should be a major threat to Tennessee’s offense in Week 5.

Last season, Jordan Jenkins led the Bulldogs with a team-high 12 tackles for loss. On Saturday, he will look to continue his success by pressuring Hurd in the backfield. Sophomore Leonard Floyd is also a major threat to Hurd’s success on Saturday. Coming off a debut season that earned SEC All-Freshman Team accolades, Floyd currently has 13 tackles and two sacks in 2014.

Georgia’s linebacking corps is talented and capable of getting into the backfield and disrupting plays. It will be a tall task for Hurd to overcome given his o-line and lack of experience. However, if his first three games are any indication of Saturday, Hurd will progress to have yet another career game against a tough matchup.