Defensive Matchup: Hurd to be tested by Dupree

Kentucky’s head coach Mark Stoops recently compared Jalen Hurd to Adrian Peterson and with good cause.

Hurd’s season has been more than most expected from the highly recruited five-star Tailback. So far the 6’3 Running-Back from Hendersonville, Tennessee has 134 carries for 598 yards and two trips to pay dirt. He’s also been effective in the passing game as well.

Standing in his way on the Kentucky defense will be Alvin “Bud” Dupree. The 6’4″ Senior is arguably Kentucky’s best player on either side of the ball. Dupree plays a hybird type position as a defensive end and Linebacker similar to Tennessee’s Curt Maggit.

Dupree has a rentless motor and is quite athletic which allows him to be a dynamic playmaker for the Wildcats defense. However, the question is will Dupree be enough to stop the Tennessee run game led by Hurd.

With Hurd continually improving as each game goes, there’s a great chance Hurd could set another career high for himself in yards and scores. Also a big game could notch him closer to a 1,000 yard season, which would make him only the third Vol freshman to do so next to Chuck Webb and Jamal Lewis.

Also with the question being brought up recently on who the best freshman running back in the SEC is this year between Hurd, Leonard Fournette, and Nick Chubb, a big game could do wonders for Hurd’s stock.

Edited by Will Lomas