Players of the week: Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara
Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara ran wild in week one. Can they continue the momentum in week two?
Tennessee’s season opener in Nashville seemingly had it all: over 1,100 total yards between the Vols and Falcons, 89 total points, an 80 minute lightning delay and even a local fan’s meager attempt to storm the field.
In a game that featured the most points Tennessee has scored since 2009 it would be difficult to pick just one player that separated himself from the pack as the player of the game.
So why not pick two?
Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara were are co-players of the week after a pair of phenomenal performances. The talented duo combined for 267 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Kamara ran for 144 yards on 15 carries and broke the longest run of the day of 56 yards, scoring a touchdown on the drive’s only play. He added one from 10 yards out as well.
Hurd was the bruiser of the two running backs notching three scores and 123 rushing yards on 23 carries.
One common perception coming into the game was that Tennessee’s offensive coordinator Mike DeBord might conceal some of his playbook with Oklahoma coming up on the schedule, and that assumption wasn’t far off.
Of Tennessee’s 87 plays from scrimmage on offense, they ran the ball an astounding 74 percent of the time. But when averaging 6.2 yards per carry, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Expect Mike DeBord to let it fly a little more next week in the pass game but don’t be surprised to see the continued success of Kamara and Hurd throughout the season.
Featured image by Ben Ozburn
Edited by Cody McClure
Dominic is in his second year writing on staff at TNJN. Along with being a staff writer, he also covers the UT men's basketball beat. He is currently a senior at the University of Tennessee majoring in Journalism and Electronic Media. Follow him @dominiclobianco on Twitter!
