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Tennessee football’s top 10 underclassmen back for 2021 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK
Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Tennessee running back Jabari Small (20) runs over Vanderbilt cornerback Jaylen Mahoney (23) during the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw56747
Tennessee running back Jabari Small (20) runs over Vanderbilt cornerback Jaylen Mahoney (23) during the fourth quarter at Vanderbilt Stadium Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw56747 /

7. player. Scouting Report. Running back. Sophomore. Jabari Small. Pick Analysis. 839

5’11” 206 pounds; Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.

Losing Eric Gray and Ty Chandler has opened up tons of questions for Tennessee football at running back. The arrival of Tiyon Evans, a junior college back expected to produce immediately, helps offset that, as does the existence of multiple power backs in the system, including Tee Hodge, Len’Neth Whitehead and Dee Beckwith.

When it comes to all-purpose backs, though, there are only two. One is speedster Jaylen Wright, an early enrollee freshman. The other is the only returning running back with any real experience in the system from last year, and as a result, he naturally will make this list.

Jabari Small, out of Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., which is just outside of Memphis in Shelby County, showed plenty of flashes as the No. 3 option at running back last year. He had 26 carries for 117 yards and another four receptions for 24 yards.

Now, averaging just four and a half yards a carry is concerning enough for us to keep him down here on this list. However, all of the offensive issues that existed last year make that somewhat forgivable. There’s still plenty of reason to believe he can be elite, and he should be the favorite to start at all-purpose back this year.

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