Among the handful or so freshmen quarterbacks starting for major programs in college football, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts has some of the more impressive numbers.

After starting three games and receiving snaps in all four, Hurts has 727 yards on 64-of-102 passing with 5 touchdowns to 1 interception. His 62.7 completion percentage ranks fourth overall among SEC starting quarterbacks.

With such a talented receiving corps, Hurts has done well in spreading the ball around to different receivers. In addition to his ability to pass the ball to multiple receivers, Hurts uses his legs to extend plays and brings the ability to use the read-option. Only three other SEC quarterbacks have taken fewer sacks: Drew Lock, currently injured Luke Del Rio and Trevor Knight.

Even Georgia’s Greyson Lambert, seldom used since starting the opening game, teammate Blake Barnett and Kentucky’s current backup and former starting quarterback Drew Barker have taken as many or more sacks as Hurts.

The opportunities are there for opposing teams, but Hurts is skillful in avoiding the pass rush. During Saturday’s game against Kent State, Hurts received a low snap from center Bradley Bozeman. For most quarterbacks, the play would have resulted in a sack. However, Hurts kept his cool, calmly collecting the low snap and scrambling outside the pocket, and when he felt the defense bearing down, he threw the ball out of bounds.

Interestingly, with as much talent as Alabama has in its backfield, Hurts is the team’s second-leading rusher. Admittedly, Hurts has received the highest number of carries, but his 5.6 yards per carry average is third among Alabama backs with 10 or more carries. He flashed his game-breaking ability as a runner with his 41-yard gain against Ole Miss.

However, what is helping Hurts even more is his ability to find different receivers. Alabama has seven pass-catchers with four or more receptions this season, and 12 different guys made it into the box score for Saturday’s game. Hurts’ throw to Mack Wilson wasn’t spectacular, but Wilson made the catch. Running back Derrick Gore received a dump pass for no gain, but that was the product of third-string quarterback Cooper Bateman.

With two of the more talented receivers on the team in ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster out for the game, perhaps Hurts had to be a little more creative. Kent State seemed to key in on Calvin Ridley. While Ridley had an opportunity at a touchdown catch, he finished the game with just 1 reception for 5 yards while five other receivers finished the game with multiple receptions.

To be clear, Hurts will need to do a better job of not staring down targets when tougher competition emerges on the schedule. His lone interception this season was partly due to telegraphing a pass to Stewart against USC’s talented corners. Hurts should have more receivers at his disposal in time for the stiffer competition with Foster and Stewart expected to return in the coming weeks.

Hurts definitely focused heavily on Cam Sims early in the game. That said, he increasingly spread the ball around as the game progressed. Hurts completed three passes to seldom-used Derek Kief and two passes to Trevon Diggs before finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Wilson. Also, Hurts’ 31-yard pass to Cam Sims early in the game set up the team’s second touchdown, a 1-yard run by Joshua Jacobs.

The offense as a whole seems to have found a rhythm, and that’s a good thing with six straight games against SEC competition ahead.

While Hurts’ ability to make plays with his arm and his legs may have seemed at first like a pleasant bonus, it could be a needed dimension to put the Tide over the top this season.