For Jalen Hurd, Tennessee, Anything Less Than a Bowl Game Is a Disappointment

Tennessee breakout star freshman running back Jalen Hurd is seeking more.

Never mind that the Vols are one of the nation's youngest teams, having played 24 freshmen, or the fact that they've navigated one of the toughest schedules. All that matters is if they beat lowly instate rival Vanderbilt this weekend in Nashville, they'll make the program's first bowl game since 2010.

That game will essentially be Hurd's homecoming. The Hendersonville native is jacked up about the possibility of getting a program-projecting win in his backyard.

"It’s everything for us; it's a live-or-die situation," Hurd told Bleacher Report on Tuesday evening after practice. "Especially with it just being at home, it makes it something else. It’s amazing.

"All we're thinking about is that sixth win. So, whoever's in our way is what we're focusing on right now. That sixth win means everything. We're trying to get Tennessee back to a bowl game, which is where they should be. So every day we’re preparing to get that win."

If the Vols don't win, well, that's going to be catastrophic. It will mean they've failed to go to a bowl game yet again and ultimately finished with a sideways step from a season ago.

Simply put, it's unacceptable to everybody. 

For a player with the drive and motivation of Hurd, this season already has fallen short of his own immense expectations, and by association, those of the team he expects to put on his young shoulders.

From a personal perspective, regardless of whether Hurd views this year as a success or not, it has been. Despite starting just seven games, he has 756 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. He's also the team's second-leading receiver with 33 catches for 217 yards and two more touchdowns.

Tennessee's offense flows directly through the 6'3", 228-pound goliath of a runner, and more often than not, he produces. How he goes, the offense goes.

At times such as the fourth quarter against South Carolina when the Vols needed a big play, they leaned on Hurd. He took a screen pass, broke two tackles and sprinted 21 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-down play that ultimately provided the catalyst for a comeback win.

He's that kind of player, and he already is a leader and a monster talent.

Kentucky's coach Mark Stoops compared him to Adrian Peterson. During ESPN's telecast of the Missouri game, analyst Kirk Herbstreit likened him to Hurd's childhood idol, Eddie George.

Despite the personal accolades, Hurd doesn't dish much on goals, but there is a huge one remaining.

"My expectations were more than what I've done so far," he said. "I definitely expected to do more and to do more as a team, but you just adjust to what you have. But one of my biggest goals was to go to a bowl game. This game means everything for us. This team [Vanderbilt] is what’s standing in our way, and we have to get this win."

Though Hurd and others shrugged off any extra motivation with this game being back in their old stomping grounds, UT coach Butch Jones acknowledged there may be a little something extra.

Said Jones, according to UTSports.com:

"

The great thing about staying at home and representing your home state institution is you play in front of your family and friends every home game in Neyland Stadium in 102,455. But I know it will be special, they get to go back to Nashville. But again, they are very, very mature, a lot of them have played [there] before in high school, so I don't see that being any clutter or any distractions at all.

"

Hurd is used to tuning out distractions. His even-keeled demeanor off the field contrasts drastically with his violent running style. Even during a recruitment where everybody in the nation wanted him, Hurd ended things early by pledging to UT in March of 2013 before signing 11 months later.

He never wavered; he just wasn't one who lived for the drama.

Hurd believed in Jones, wanted to be part of the program and became the jewel of a top-notch recruiting class and a recruiter that pulled together a star-studded group. Hurd reached iconic status before he ever arrived in Knoxville, and he has lived up to the massive hype.

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"Definitely I was a fan of Tennessee growing up," Hurd recalled. "My grandparents followed it very hard. They're diehard UT fans. They've always supported me, anywhere I wanted to go, but when I finally came here, they were ecstatic. It’s crazy just being here with all my hometown friends in the state I grew up in. It's amazing representing them every day."

Several of his classmates from the same area felt the same way. Defensive end Derek Barnett and wide receiver Josh Malone (among others) all hail from the Midstate.

Jones again is recruiting well in Nashville, Murfreesboro and the corridor between the two cities. That talent-rich area was largely ignored by Derek Dooley, but Jones made it a priority. It's returning players who are providing the program's backbone.

Hurd already is looked upon by Vols fans as a trailblazer who believed in Jones before there was any tangible proof of something to believe in. He's perhaps the most beloved Vol already, and he is blossoming into a star.

"It's a blessing just being here," Hurd said, "and even being on a pedestal...you’ve just got to take a step back and look at it that way and know that you're working hard for family, for your coaches, for everybody here and for your teammates."

The fruits of that hard work are hard-earned wins, and they've been hard to come by this year. The Vols need one more for all the struggles to pay off. Even if Hurd has bigger aspirations for his days at UT than just making a bowl game, getting to the postseason is the first step.

After that? Well, Hurd doesn't talk too much about personal goals, but he's got an ultimate vision for this program. 

"I can't speak too much on goals, but all I know is I'm going to put everything I have into this program and try to get this team to a national championship," he said. "I'm going to do everything I can do."

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered from UTSports.com, unless otherwise noted.

Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter @Brad_Shepard.