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Tennessee football: Five key Vols to watch for against Purdue Boilermakers

By Caleb Calhoun

Nov 20, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) plays defense during the first half against the South Alabama Jaguars at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Jeremy Banks (33) plays defense during the first half against the South Alabama Jaguars at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) during warm ups before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) during warm ups before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

The first bowl game for Tennessee football under Josh Heupel is in intriguing one. In all four of the Purdue Boilermakers’ losses, the other team played to its strengths. Although Jeff Brohm’s team has specific weaknesses, there’s no magic formula where specific players at certain positions always stand out to give them problems.

As we get set to break down the UT players who will be key in this game, part of it will be based on those general weaknesses of Purdue, but the other part will largely just be based on the most talented players in the game. Purdue pulls off upsets when those players don’t step up.

What’s clear is that if Tennessee football is going to get eight wins its first year under Heupel, its stars will need to look like stars. Who are those guys, though, and what can they do in this game? Let’s break all of that down here. These are the five players from Rocky Top who will be key in this year’s Music City Bowl.

Jabari Small. 839. Running back. Pick Analysis. Sophomore. 5. player. Scouting Report

5’11” 206 pounds

For the year, Purdue has been pretty good at stopping the run, allowing less than four and a half yards a carry and under 150 yards a game. However, when they face teams who are elite at running the ball, they can give up lots of yards. Against the Wisconsin Badgers, they allowed two players to rush for 140 yards or more.

Of course, Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to run the ball well, but they allowed to players to rush for at least 98 yards against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Although Josh Heupel is known for his passing offense, it’s clear that everything he does is set up by the run.

Taking that into account, Tennessee football will need Jabari Small to step up. Small has 114 carries for 611 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns on the year, and he’s added eight catches for 75 yards. With Tiyon Evans having transferred and Jaylen Wright and Len’Neth Whitehead still young, Small should be the star back in this game.

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