Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd was given 66/1 odds to win the Heisman by Bovada last week – tying him with Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell as the 31st-most likely player in the nation to win college football’s most prestigious individual award.
Throw in Joshua Dobbs, who 5Dimes gave 20/1 Heisman odds to back in February, and those are great indicators that the Vols will have some star power not seen in recent years in Knoxville.
But looking at the Bovada odds especially, it’s also a great indicator of the talent at running back in the SEC and the battle Jalen Hurd has to become one of the top backs in the league, a step he would need to take before being considered a serious Heisman contender.
SEC running backs in front of Hurd in the Bovada odds are LSU’s Leonard Fournette (15/2), Georgia’s Nick Chubb (8/1) and Derrick Henry (16/1). Not listed, but not too far behind, is Arkansas’ duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, each of which easily topped the century mark in rushing last year. Other dark horses such as Florida’s Kelvin Taylor or Auburn’s Jovon Robinson or Roc Thomas round out an impressive group of backs in the conference.
That’s not to say Hurd doesn’t – or can’t – stack up. As a true freshman, Hurd, despite battling a few minor injuries, still racked up 899 yards rushing and five touchdowns, adding 221 yards and a couple more touchdowns via receiving. He looked stronger and faster this spring despite being limited to a non-contact jersey.
It is a loaded field, even at his own position and in his own conference, however. Splitting carries with five-star junior college transfer Alvin Kamara could eat into Hurd’s chances at individual awards. But that won’t be the focus of the “Chain-Moving Gang” as Hurd and Kamara have dubbed themselves. Piling up team yardage, points and wins comes first, and if individual awards follow, all the better.
