2017 NFL Draft: Tennessee Jalen Hurd Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
Tennessee’s Jalen Hurd is an underrated running back prospect who needs to be in the conversation as one of the better backs in this draft class.
Jalen Hurd is a bigger running back who runs with a purpose. Despite his 6’4” frame, he does a good job keeping low and running behind his pads. This makes Hurd a really powerful runner who routinely breaks tackles.
It’s a lot of fun watching Hurd run the football because he fights for every yard and doesn’t shy away from contact. His toughness extends to his willingness as a blocker where he attacks the defender and delivers a jolt.
Hurd is a good pass protector who sits in his stance, anchors and uses his hands. He also doesn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself to keep the quarterback safe.
However, his value is as a runner where he can grid out the tough yards or break of long runs. Hurd prefers to work north and south, but has enough speed to work around the edges. His quick-twitch ability helps him press the line of scrimmage and shoot through small paces.
He does a good job identifying the proper running lane and working to avoid loss yardage situations. Hurd’s speed could be a little surprising because of his size, but he has that ability to outpace defensive angles and eat up a ton of yards in a hurry.
There are a lot of situations where there isn’t much running room but Hurd finds a way to find some space. He’s someone who can carry the load and be an offense’s featured back.
The one area where he needs to improve is as a pass catcher. He has some issues getting his body in the right position which makes catching the ball more difficult than necessary. Hurd shows solid hands and can create after the catch, but needs to be more consistent catching the ball.
Current Draft Status: Early 2nd Round