The most common name people are seeing as Heisman candidate in the SEC is Leonard Fournette from LSU. He's been one of the favorites ever since Derrick Henry was handed the trophy for the 2015 season. ESPN has already put together a list of five potential sleeper candidates in the Power 5 conferences and there is one notable running back also from the SEC.
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On that list of five sleepers from the Power 5, Hurd joins Louisville QB Lamar Jackson, Baylor QB Seth Russell, Penn State RB Saquon Barkley and UCLA QB Seth Rosen as potential invitees not receiving the preseason hype.
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Alex Scarborough offers the following reason for why Hurd is the SEC's sleeper candidate:
"He's not the most talked-about player in his conference, his position or even on his own team. Some early Heisman odds have him trailing Leonard Fournette, Nick Chubb and Bo Scarbrough among SEC running backs, and Scarbrough has never started a game. Even Hurd's teammate, quarterback Joshua Dobbs, steals his thunder. Making matters worse, fellow Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara steals his carries. But forget that! Hurd is a beast. Have you seen the video of him running 23.1 mph on a treadmill? Ridiculous. The 6-4, 240-pound junior is an athletic marvel with the ability to run with power and speed, as well as catch the football. Think of him as the SEC's version [of] Christian McCaffrey. With 2,187 rushing yards and 21 career touchdowns, Hurd should be a household name by now. If Tennessee competes for a spot in the playoff, as many expect, he will be before long."
That's some high praise for the rising junior and if he continues to get better he will more than deserve it. He finished 2015 with 1,288 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns despite splitting carries with Kamara and Dobbs.
[h/t Saturday Down South]
