Tennessee player of the week: Jalen Hurd
Jalen Hurd was one of few bright spots in Tennessee’s devastating loss to Oklahoma.
Saturday night was the first game back at Neyland Stadium for Vol fans since a loss to Missouri last November. And for fans, it had the same electric atmosphere coming in and the same disappointing feeling walking out.
The game featured 102,455 fans coordinated in orange and white throughout the crowd, two ranked teams looking for a non-conference win and heartbreak in double overtime for the Vols.
In a game that wasn’t won until the last play, Jalen Hurd emerged as a bright spot and as Tennessee’s best performer of the week.
Hurd, feeding off his 23 carry game a week ago, carried the ball 24 times for 106 yards, and a clutch touchdown in overtime against Oklahoma.
Many expected Alvin Kamara to be featured more in the offense, and though still healthy, he only touched the ball five times on Saturday night, with one of those carries coming on the goal line.
Hurd was featured as the workhorse and made the most out of little, fighting for extra yards throughout the game. He accounted for all but 23 yards rushing for the Vols, and even though he had a costly fumble that dropped the Vols out of field goal range late in the game, he was still the lone source of production on offense in the second half.
The Vols will try to get Kamara more involved in the offense by creating more space for him this week against Western Carolina. Tennessee will be looking to create an offensive rhythm before the three-game SEC stretch at Florida and home against Arkansas and Georgia.
Edited by Cody McClure
