Analysis: Jalen Hurd's transfer represents new chance with a cost

Sometimes, what begins as the "right fit" doesn’t progress the way a player thinks it should.

This seemed to be the case for Tennessee running back Jalen Hurd, who stunned many in Knoxville when he announced he was going to transfer. The junior ball carrier had just come off an amazing season in which he gained the most rushing yards of any Volunteers sophomore with 1,288.

Entering this season, Hurd made some interesting comments during fall camp when reporters asked him if he wanted to run more from the Deep-I formation.

“Yeah, I mentioned that to them, and we ran some in the bowl game,” he said.

Hurd finished that contest with 130 rushing yards and one touchdown as Tennessee destroyed Northwestern 45-6.

In past comments which seem to echo more now given his stunning announcement, Hurd offered an explanation as to why he prefers the I-formation.

“You definitely have a better vision of the field in some cases,” Hurd remarked to reporters. Though, he did also mention to the press he could run from any formation.

Hurd was in dominant form to start the season, running for 110 yards and one score in Tennessee’s opener against Appalachian State. Few, if any of the Volunteer faithful expected this to be his last game rushing for 100 yards or more.

Since that time, his production and touches have dropped. He had just 10 carries against Georgia and eight rushing attempts in the South Carolina game. While rumors swirled about possible injuries and fights with the coaching staff, it became clear Hurd wasn’t going to fit into Tennessee’s future plans.

When Hurd announced his decision to transfer he didn’t specify a reason. However, Knoxville radio station WNML announced the reason he opted to transfer was due to a desire to play tight end or wide receiver.

If this is indeed the case, it illustrates a new vision for his future.

At 6-foot-4, Hurd has the size to play both positions and possesses the athletic prowess to excel wherever he lines up on the field. He wouldn’t be the first person to try this change either.

Braxton Miller made things easier for Urban Meyer and Ohio State’s coaching staff last season when he made the move from quarterback to H-Back due in part to an ailing shoulder that wasn’t going to heal quick enough to play quarterback. Out of the gate, his transition seemed a success, as he had a highlight reel of a game against Virginia Tech. Though he didn’t have a huge season from a production angle, he made enough of an impact from an athletic and character standpoint for the Houston Texans to draft him with the 85th pick.

If Hurd is trying to replicate this same type of transition to garner attention from NFL teams, he’s going about it the wrong way.

Miller stayed with the Buckeyes in his last season, he didn’t abandon his team like Hurd did. While head coach Butch Jones supports Hurd on his move, it’s important to consider the situation from the standpoint of those at his next stops. What will his new teammates think about him? More importantly, if he is lucky enough to become a draft prospect, how will NFL teams analyze his decision to jump ship?

Players shift positions all the time to create better opportunities for themselves and their teams. While Hurd saw the writing on the wall and how he was unlikely to fit into Tennessee’s offense - at least this season - he took the wrong approach. Instead of staying with the team, working it out, and possibly even changing positions, he left in puzzling fashion.

For a player with his promise and athletic pedigree, change can be good if he finds the right fit. Along the way, though, he will invite questions he never thought he would have to answer.