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Entering the 2014 season, Vol fans speculated who’d see the majority of carries between senior Marlin Lane and freshman Jalen Hurd. The veteran Lane had the obvious edge in experience, while Hurd enrolled in Knoxville with huge expectations as a blue chip prospect.
In Sunday’s opener, both running backs saw an even amount of 11 carries a piece. Lane led with 41 yards and a touchdown. Hurd totaled 29 yards and recorded his first career touchdown on a 15-yard reception. As a team, Tennessee rushed for a total of 110 yards on 39 carries.
The numbers weren’t stellar and head coach Butch Jones expressed his displeasure during his weekly press conference.
“The ability to run the football, we averaged 2.8 yards per rush,” Jones said. “I don’t look at averages, I look at run efficiency. What is the definition of an efficient run? An efficient run is four yards or more, or if it is second-and-short or third-and-short you get the first down…We have to be able to run a little bit more.”
In Week 1, it seemed as though Jones was holding an open audition for his depth chart. The Vols featured numerous rotations and the players’ individual statistics weren’t much to write home about. But as the season progresses, the Tennessee coaches will have a better idea of which players will be the key contributors in their offense.
Against Arkansas State, it will be interesting to see whether Jones continues to split carries evenly between the two backs or if a leading rusher emerges. Many speculated that Lane would see a 60-40 in Week 1, with Hurd having a chance to produce and compete. Based on statistics, Lane had the more impressive output with a higher yards per carry average. But Hurd played well for a player making his collegiate debut after missing a year of in-game action.
Week 2 could provide the first glimpse of which back will emerge as the premiere player in Tennessee’s offense moving forward.
A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky
