Zach Hurd Scouting Report

During his four years at Connecticut, offensive guard Zach Hurd has paved the way for some great rushers. Donald Brown, Andre Dixon and most recently Jordan Todman have all had great collegiate careers and Hurd deserves plenty of credit. Back in 2007, Hurd was not a starter as a redshirt freshman, but he did play in every game and was a vital player off of the bench. By his sophomore season Hurd was in the starting lineup and never looked back.

In 2008 Brown rushed for over 2,000 yards. In 2009 Todman and Dixon each ran for over 1,000 yards, and in 2010 Todman has already eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau and should hit 1,500 very easily. Hurd has moved around on the line a bit, playing at both guard positions and that versatility is never a bad thing. For his efforts in 2009, Hurd was named to the First Team All-Big East squad and he should have plenty more accolades waiting for him at the conclusion of the 2010 campaign. At 6-7 and 325 pounds, Hurd has built his body to be a superb guard at the next level. Obviously his strength is run blocking and that is where he also has the most experience. He can have trouble in pass blocking against quicker defensive tackles and that is what will keep him in the mid-rounds.

Hurd and Connecticut are not done with 2010 campaign yet. Through ten games, the Huskies are in a position to earn a berth to a BCS Bowl. After starting out 3-4, UConn has consecutive victories over West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Those are the only other three teams with a winning record in conference play. The Huskies need some help, but getting to a BCS bowl will put Hurd on the national stage and possibly boost his stock.

12/20 Update: The Huskies got the job done by knocking off Cincinnati and South Florida in the final two weeks of the season. The result is a trip to the Fiesta Bowl and a date against perennial powerhouse Oklahoma. UConn are heavy underdogs in the New Year's Day contest, but even in a loss, Hurd can gain some national exposure. If he can pave the way for Todman to have a decent rushing attack and keep his team close, Hurd's stock will rise very quickly.

3/27 Update: Hurd had some problems during the pre-draft workouts, missing the Senior Bowl with a calf injury and dealing with the flu during the NFL combine. Hurd still participated in most of the events at the combine and showed off for scouts again in late March at his pro day. However, he did not really boost his stock with any of the performances. At 6-7, Hurd has great size for a guard in the NFL, but his lack of fluidity is keeping him down in the middle rounds.