Jalen Hurd spoke to the media after practice on Tuesday, discussing expectations for this upcoming year and how the offense has grown over the spring.
Hurd says that this team, which will now be led by many of the members from his incoming recruiting class, is prepared to shoulder the weight of high expectations and offseason hype, adding that this group will thrive under the pressure.
“We talked about moments like this,” Hurd said of the guys he came in with and the challenge of turning Tennessee around. “What we talked about is here now. It’s time for us to step up and show everybody what we can do.”
When asked about the plethora of offseason injuries, Hurd was optimistic, saying that a lot of guys have gotten good opportunities to impress the coaching staff this spring.
“We’ve had some guys injured so we’ve been able to get guys coming through the line and rotate. All the injuries led them to have to make plays and step up.”
The coaching staff has been careful with Hurd this spring, holding him out of practice a few times in order to keep him fresh. Hurd said he doesn’t mind the conservative approach to spring practice.
“I do what I need to do, but whenever they call me in there I give it my all.”
Hurd said that he doesn’t like to compare himself to anyone, but this spring he has watched a lot of film on a UT great.
“I’ve watched a lot of Jamal Lewis. He’s a big and powerful guy. I’ve talked to him a couple times. I like to take bits and pieces of other backs and put it into my game.”
