Tennessee football: Five most underrated recruits in Vols 2020 class

With the conversion of Jeremy Banks to linebacker and this his dismissal, Tennessee football was short a power running back last year. That’s why the Vols brought in Quavaris Crouch on numerous goal-line plays during the season.

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What’s clear is that Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Chaney have always wanted one power back option to complement all-purpose backs like Ty Chandler and Eric Gray. Tee Hodge immediately provides that. At 6’2″ 230 pounds coming out of Maryville High School, he has a profile similar to Banks or Crouch, but Hodge is specifically a running back.

Here’s what you need to know about this guy. He runs a 4.47 40-time. How could a guy with his frame be that fast and still only be a three-star? Well, the questions revolve around his injury history. Hodge suffered a season-ending broken right fibula in 2018, and he then missed portions of the 2019 year as well.

By all accounts, though, he hasn’t lost a step. As a result, he’s a major underrated prospect, and the East Tennessee native’s profile could allow him to step in and immediately be an impact player. Hodge would be the perfect change of pace and really complete the profiles of what Chaney needs to run his pro-style offense to the fullest.

Even if five-star Zachary Evans does commit to Tennessee football, his weight fluctuates in the 200 range. So Hodge is still the feature power back that the Vols need, and he has the physical tools to be elite. The only question is if he can stay healthy.