Running back Hurd also to play safety after record year
Beech football coach Anthony Crabtree admits his primary objective this spring for Jalen Hurd was a simple one.
“Not to get him hurt,” Crabtree said of Hurd, who rushed for a state-record 3,357 yards and 42 touchdowns while leading his team to a Class 5A championship and winning Class AAA Mr. Football honors.
But while spring practice wasn’t a setting for the Tennessee commitment to earn a starting position, there was plenty for the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder to work on as he prepared for his senior season.
That includes free safety, where he will start after playing sparingly on defense in 2012.
“Safety’s fun,” Hurd said. “It’s just another way to hit people. I don’t want to play it at the collegiate level because running back is my preferred position. I love running back, and that’s where I want to stay.
“But anywhere I can help my team, I’ll play.”
Hurd is ranked as the nation’s No. 11 prospect in the signing class of 2014 by247sports.com and No. 15 by Rivals.com.
Crabtree said spring practice for Hurd was about “sharpening the details.”
“Steps, pad level, securing the ball on the handoff, while he’s carrying the ball, making sure he’s not carrying it loosely, sharpening pass routes,” Crabtree said.
“The biggest part of the overall scheme he understands. You just try to refine what he does and get the details down.”
The plan is for Hurd and classmate Dorian Carter (573 rushing yards, 13 TDs in 2012) to see time at tailback and other spots on offense. Carter also will play cornerback.
“What we’re hoping for is to be able to get those guys in the game (on offense) at the same time, move them around some in some different formations,” Crabtree said. “We’ve not been doing a lot of that in the spring. Hopefully we’ll be able to do a couple of other things in the fall.”
Hurd is fully recovered from shoulder surgery that took place soon after the season ended and has participated in scrimmages against Oakland and Dickson County this spring.
“He’s just as determined, works just as hard as he did last year at this time before he knew what he wanted to do,” Crabtree said. “He’s a relentless worker. He’s trying to be a leader. I don’t think you could ask for anybody to try to do any more than he’s trying to do right.”
Source: Maurice Patton, The Tennessean
