The SEC East is as wide open as its been in several years. Two early season contenders, Georgia and South Carolina, already have conference losses, while Florida and Missouri both have question marks. Tennessee is still on the outside of that contender conversation, but they’re on their way back under Butch Jones. The Volunteers are heading into their first SEC contest against Georgia coming off a bye week. They’ve undoubtedly worked to figure out some questions on their roster. Among them: their starting running back.

Tennessee RB

Players involved: Marlin Lane, Jalen Hurd Who will probably start: Marlin Lane Who should start: Jalen Hurd Since the start of the season, Lane has been listed atop the depth chart. The senior has been very solid for the Volunteers for three years already, finishing second on the team in rushing all three seasons from 2011-2013. He earned a chance to start with a re-dedication to the program, putting aside some off-field troubles, and seemed to be in line for a breakout season. In his sophomore and junior years, Lane averaged better than 5 yards per carry in a backup role. Despite Lane’s starting role, the freshman Hurd has earned more carries than his senior counterpart in every game this season. He showed why against Oklahoma, when he picked up 91 of his 97 yards in the second half. Hurd is huge, listed at 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, and has breakaway speed, reportedly being clocked at sub-4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Should it matter who starts the game? Not as much as who finishes it, and Hurd seems to be the guy to do that. Lane can take the early handoffs, but Jones seems confident in his maturing freshman to give him the ball later in the game. Jones has said he likes the way Hurd finishes his runs off, and the freshman has no problem lowering his pads and getting the 3- and 4-yard runs needed to keep drives going. As he keeps maturing, the split in carries could become even more tilted in his favor than they already are. For now, Jones says both will get carries. Against Georgia this weekend, that might be a good strategy. South Carolina showed a few weeks ago that you can pound the ball right at Georgia, as they did late with Brandon Wilds and Mike Davis. As it happened, Wilds, the backup, was the one who punched in a crucial touchdown in the fourth quarter. Hurd, as noted above, ripped off two explosive runs — 29 and 43 yards — late in the game against Oklahoma. Having two sets of legs ready to roll late in the game could be huge if Tennessee intends to hang around in Athens.