All for Tennessee
Fansided

Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2020 recruiting class at dead period: Vols Running Backs

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 29: A general view of Neyland Stadium during the South Carolina Gamecocks game against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 29, 2011 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
Tennessee football
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

Final Take

When it comes to depth at running back, Tennessee football is set in the near future with by-committee talent to satisfy Jeremy Pruitt. However, they aren’t done completely stocking the roster yet.

More from Vols Football

The Vols need to have two speed backs, two feature fundamental backs and two power backs. Right now, they have two speed backs in Ty Chandler and Eric Gray as his backup, two fundamental backs in Tim Jordan and Carlin Fils-Aime, and one power back in Jeremy Banks.

Tee Hodges’s commitment gives them two power backs, which is what they need, but his arrival is a year away. By that point, Fils-Aime will be gone unless he redshirts, and Chandler could leave early for the pros as well. As a result, Pruitt needs to add a couple more members to his class for next year. He’s fine on the quality front.

Heading into 2020, at least one speed back and one power back will have been a four-star recruit each, and that’s where the four-stars come in. So he needs help on the depth front. That means pure running back and all-purpose back, even as three-stars would suffice to fill out the 2020 recruiting class.

Prediction

None of the top prospects will end up on Rocky Top. That’s okay given the overall talent they will have next year. However, Jeremy Pruitt will secure a couple of more commitments as needed to keep up his depth. Either Ty Jordan or Miles Friday will commit to the Vols, and Richard Densmore will also join.

Next. Projecting the Vols' 2019 2-deep depth chart. dark

That will give Rocky Top six backs at a minimum for next year and likely keep them at six through the 2021 season, fulfilling the three different roles Pruitt wants in his stable back there. As a result, Tennessee football will be fine before it’s all said and done, and if Friday commits, he could retroactively boost UT’s rating with a major improvement this year. so watch out.

Home/Vols Football