University of Tennessee Athletics
Hurd & Kamara Perfect Complement
September 05, 2015 | Football
Nashville Natives Come Up Big
Butch Jones wanted to bring the 2015 season opener to Nashville to show how important the mid-state is for the Volunteer program.
On the first drive of Tennessee’s 59-30 win over Bowling Green, Nashville-area players made a similar statement in front of their own in front of their “home” crowd.
Trailing 3-0, sophomore Jalen Hurd ran for six yards on the Volunteers’ first offensive play of the season. A play later, Joshua Dobbs hit Murfreesboro’s Jauan Jennings with a 19-yard pass for the first catch of his Vol career. Jennings fought to get open after Dobbs was flushed from the pocket and made a leaping grab for the first down.
Hurd carried again for five yards before Dobbs found Gallatin’s Josh Malone for 16 yards to set up first-and-goal at the 8. Hurd took care of things from there, executing a perfrct cut to the outside for an 8-yard score to start a huge day for himself and the Volunteer offense.
“The mid-state has meant so much to us,” Jones said. “You look at Jauan Jennings and what he was able to do for us in his first-career start. We said it, turning Tennessee football around was going to start in the state of Tennessee and it was going to start right here in Nashville. That was never more evident than right here tonight.
“If you’re a young man from Nashville, why would you not want to represent your home state? You look at the crowd, you look at the excitement, you look at the Vol Walk, that’s what college football is all about.”
Another player from Middle Tennessee, Clarksville native Jalen Reeves-Maybin effectively sealed the game with a fumble recovery inside the Tennessee 5-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
The ensuing nine-play, 94-yard drive over the next 3:12 put UT up 56-30. Hurd went over 100 yards on the drive, carrying times for 15 yards.
“I’m really happy we had a game like this in Nashville,” Hurd said. “We were enjoying the experience and just taking it one moment at a time.”
- Brian Rice
By Brian Rice NASHVILLE--
UTSports.com
As season ago, the freshman dazzled for Tennessee, getting better game after game in a season that saw him rush for 899 yards on 190 carries and five touchdowns. But the volume of those touches slowly took its toll.
Enter Alvin Kamara. Thunder, meet lightning.
After an off-season of wondering what could be with two former five-star recruits sharing the Tennessee backfield, Vol fans saw the promise fulfilled in a 59-30 victory over Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“We’ve been talking about it since spring,” Kamara said. “Getting out there and finally getting on the field and seeing what that o-line can do and see what both of us can do. It was fun. It was a really fun game.”
Fun to the tune of a combined 267 yards and five touchdowns. Add in the 89 yards and another TD on the ground from quarterback Joshua Dobbs and it is easy to see why the coaches and players have had a quiet excitement about the potential this season.
“They feed off of each other,” Jones said of his running backs. “They’re selfless. When one scores, we all score. You could see the excitement in them and their body language.”
The excitement started early as both players carried on the Vols’ opening drive. Hurd started and finished the drive, a six-yard run on the first offensive play of the season and an eight-yard cut to the left for Tennessee’s first score. He had a five-yard gain in the middle of the drive as well. Kamara had three touches on the first drive for 16 yards, including a 10-yard run to set up UT with a third-and-1 that helped the Vols keep the drive alive after a Dobbs sack.
The running game helped set up the passing game, just like offensive coordinator Mike DeBord drew it up.
“Tennessee football runs the ball,” Hurd said. “Off of that, we can do anything.”
The two even lined up together in the backfield, another prospect that Vol fans were salivating over. The players have that same reaction as well.
“When both of us are in at the same time, we kind of look at each other and laugh,” Kamara said. “It’s fun just having that extra element in our offense.”
Kamara’s 144 rushing yards were the most by a Tennessee running back in his debut in orange. He scored twice, including a 56-yard run in the third quarter that he credited to his offensive line – and the Nissan Stadium video board.
“The o-line had great push up front and I cut outside and got a big block from Josh Smith and went up the sideline,” Kamara said. “I looked up at the jumbotron and saw he was getting close to me and I had to pick it up.”
Hurd was just as impressive, with 123 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. And all he wanted to talk about afterward was the way his teammate did exactly what he came to Knoxville to do.
“Alvin coming in and producing what he did today, that’s amazing,” Hurd said. “We’re just trying to represent and do everything we can for the Tennessee Volunteers. We pride ourselves on being the most unselfish group. This is a family. When one of my teammates scores a touchdown, I’m happy for him.”
The only question left is what can they do for an encore in seven nights when Oklahoma comes to Neyland Stadium?
“We’re a great team and we’re going to do great things this year,” said Hurd. “But we can get better, we’re never going to be satisfied.”
