When he walked away from an elite college football program and the position that would have likely made him a first-round NFL draft pick, Jalen Hurd was simply betting on Jalen Hurd.
Hurd had done extensive research. He hadn't made his highly publicized 2016 decision "on a whim," as he explained in a July 2018 interview with Bleacher Report's Matt Hayes. Rather, he was wagering on his long-term future. "Running backs last 3.5 years in the NFL. Wide receivers can last 10 or more years," Hurd said. "Receivers are more valued than running backs in the NFL, and I can play this game a lot longer and can be more valuable as a receiver.