Baylor landing Jalen Hurd might as well have been 'highway robbery'
When SicEm365 began to receive news that Baylor was the favorite to land Tennessee transfer Jalen Hurd, it was hard to believe he was choosing the Bears over a program like Ohio State for Baylor fans.
According to a quote by assistant coach Evan Cooper in an article written by Matt Hayes of Bleacher Report, the Baylor coaches were surprised by the commitment as well. After a stop by Waco for a quick visit, Hurd left the staff to head to California before calling a short time later to give him his commitment.
"Out of the blue," Cooper said. "He gets here, and we show him the campus; he meets and talks with the coaches and goes back to the hotel. Four hours, tops. Later that night, I get a call, he says: 'Hey, coach, I'm coming. I don't need to see anything else.'"
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Cooper went on to say that after having him on campus for a few months, it was still hard to believe the type of player they were able to land for a single season when he could have gone on to the NFL as a first-round draft pick at the time.
"A few months later, after the first day of fall camp, we all look at each other like, he's better than we ever could've imagined," Cooper added.
Recently named one of the best pure athletes in the country by NFL.com, Hurd was timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, measured 10-10 in the broad jump, and timed less than four seconds in the 20-yard dash, something only three players accomplished at this year's NFL combine.
Hurd is attempting to reinvent himself with his move from running back to wide receiver for his final season of college football after leaving Tennesse with over 3,100 total yards and 26 total touchdowns in less than three seasons.
Expectations are extremely high for playing a new position, but Hurd put that on himself with athletic ability and production in what many consider the toughest football conference in the country.
"I'm telling you, we got away with highway robbery," Cooper said. "Literally, this might be the most talented player I have ever seen."