Forumsby JC Shurburtt.
Under Armour All-American cornerback Toney Hurd, Jr., (Missouri City, Texas/Marshall) is getting ready for his season and is getting ready to plan official visits.
“I want to start to get into my season and then wait to take at least two or three visits before I start to narrow it down,” Hurd said. “California offered me and I would like to get out there because I have never been out there. I also would like to visit Tennessee and see what Knoxville is like.”
Hurd said the Vols and Golden Bears, along with Texas A&M, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame and Oregon all continue to recruit him.
“There are others, too, but those are the ones that are after me the hardest off the top of my head,” he said.
Evalutation: Hurd is a defensive playmaker and one of the better ball-hawking defensive backs in this class. Has marginal height, which is a concern when matched up versus taller college receivers, but is well-defined, strong and a fierce competitor to help mask his smaller measurables. Possesses great instincts and quick-twitch, reactive athleticism. Reads the play quickly and takes sharp, direct angles to the ball against the run or pass. Explodes out of his pedal and reaches top speed quickly, allowing him to generate the velocity of a much bigger defender. Consistently separates the ball from the receiver as a pass defender and lays some punishing hits when running the alley in run support. His overall range and pursuit angles are excellent, which makes us believe safety is a good possibility in college — despite lacking a long, rangy body for deep pass coverage. Ball skills are another strong area as he turns into a receiver when competing for the jump ball. Flashes great timing and leaping skills and knows how to naturally position or adjust his body to the pass. While he played mainly safety in the film we viewed, he displays excellent transitional quickness, recovery burst and makeup speed sought after in a cornerback. Technique will need some refinement, if employed at corner because he can be overaggressive and bite on the double move at times. Needs to play a bit more under control in general. He’s a very strong tackler, but can leave his feet a lot and fails to wrap up looking for the big collision. Better playing/breaking on the ball in front of him than flipping his hips to turn and run in coverage.Bottom line, Hurd covers the field and makes plays as well as any of the top defensive backs in this class. Great underneath zone corner and a guy who will offer his defensive coordinator great scheme versatility with his ability to play safety or a bandit position. A great nickel corner early in career.
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