In looking up longest runs Hurd's longest were bested at least once (only their longest runs shown so doesn't preclude other runs being longer than Hurd's best) by other RB's every year he was here.
2014- Hurd's best 43, Marlin Lane 44.
2015- Hurd 48, Kamara 63
2016- Hurd 28, JK 73, AK 39
Also realize Hurd got the lion's share of carries over this period.
Now....who were those runs against?
I know Hurd's 43 yarder came against OK.....who was Lane's against?
Who was JK's 73 yarder against? AK's 39 yarder?
I do realize that Hurd got the lion's share of carries---but do you realize what that means?
It means that he took the lion's share of BEATINGS from those defenses as he ran behind that less than awesome OL we had.
And yes, it also means that he had more opportunities.
Kamara started one year against Bama and didn't even survive the first half before being knocked out of the game by a Bama DB who blasted his legs along the sideline.
Hurd took those blows all the time and stayed in the game and kept playing.
Go back and watch Hurd's performance in the 2015 game against Fla--and his 2015 Bama game--HE flat out was in BEAST MODE. And don't forget the Bowl game against NW that year.
He may not have broken any 40+ yard runs against those teams---but just how many RBs in the SEC did that year?
Ultimately, the point that I'm trying to make is that CBJ and crew had 3 stud RBs on the roster and couldn't find a way to utilize them in order to produce Ws!
Each RB had his good and bad points---i.e., both John Kelly and Alvin Kamara FUMBLED away scoring opportunities against aTm in 2016--HURD fumbled away a score against UGA that could've cost us the game.
Not many on here are willing to acknowledge Hurd's GREAT talent at RB because he quit the team after the USCe game.
And many on here use that bad decision as license to say that both AK and JK were better RBs in college than Hurd.
And I just don't believe that the game tapes of UT games affirm that opinion. Hurd did enough in his 3 years at RB to show he had elite talent in the SEC at the position.
These same folks fail to acknowledge that AK quit BAMA--and made the most of his 2nd chance with us at UT.
Why can't you guys give the same allowances for Hurd?
And we also know that CBJ FAILED MISERABLY to get AK on the field and the ball into his hands while he was here.
AK could've and SHOULD'VE gotten the ball more as both a runner and pass-catcher from the RB and slot-receiver position.
AK is gettin' his props now in the NFL....and we'll see how HURD performs in the NFL.
I expect HURD to show up in many highlight reels--and then the only question that will be asked is "Why couldn't CBJ win with all that talent at UT?"