"I really don't know how I feel right now, but I am definitely upset that he has left," Hurd told InsideTennessee. "He was a great coach in that program.
Jones wasted no time getting in touch with the Hurd camp, placing a call to Hendersonville, Tenn., shortly after the news of Graham's departure went public to let the elite runner know that a plan is already in place to bring in a more-than-competent replacement.
"I think they'll do that. I think they've got that in them," said the U.S. Army All-American, whose most recent trip on Feb. 16 had him shoulder to shoulder with Jones and Graham a majority of the time.
Other schools like Alabama, Florida, Ohio State and Vanderbilt are in the race as well.
"I'm hearing from Florida quite a bit," Hurd said. "Coach (Brent) Pease, I'm talking to him. I talk to coach (Will) Muschamp once in awhile. I talk to (Ohio State) coach (Urban) Meyer a little bit. I'm talking to Vandy a little bit. It's kind of everywhere. I'm just taking it slow."
He said he is likely visiting Ohio State with high school coach Anthony Crabtree next.
"Coach Meyer is a player's coach and everyone really knows that. He's great," Hurd said.
"Everytime I come up there, they show love to my family, show love to me. They just have kind of a 'me day' and show me around
I just feel a lot of love from them."