Former Tennessee assistant says Jalen Hurd was used as a ‘fall guy’ for Vols’ struggles in 2016
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Back in 2016, star RB Jalen Hurd was a source of much conversation in Knoxville, as reports about the Tennessee standout were coming out seemingly every day.
He wasn’t a team player, he was injured, he was a quitter — all of these were things Hurd heard. He eventually left the program and transferred to Baylor, where he’ll take the field as a wide receiver this fall.
In an in-depth profile from Bleacher Report’s Matt Hayes on Friday, a former Tennessee assistant said no one worked harder for Tennessee or gave more to the program than Hurd, adding that Hurd got an unfair rap from fans and media:
“There’s a sign in the locker room that we all touched before heading to the field that says, ‘I will give my all for Tennessee,'” a former Vols assistant told Bleacher Report. “If any guy gave his all for that program, it was [Hurd]. He played hurt. He played hard. He did everything he was asked. We started 5-0, then lost three straight, and everyone wanted a fall guy. Guess who that guy was?”
Hurd could have made it to the NFL as a running back if he’d finished the 2016 season out, but now he’s gambling on himself and his ability to carve out a longer career as a receiver.
Hayes’s profile is well worth your time, and you can read the entire piece here.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
