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Tennessee football’s top five performers in 2021 from 2021 recruiting class

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Tennflorida0925 1072
Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Tennflorida0925 1072 /
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Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (23) warms up during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (23) warms up during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football /

Running back. Freshman. Jaylen Wright. 3. 839. Pick Analysis. player. Scouting Report

5’11” 200 pounds

When it comes to offensive freshmen, there were plenty of candidates. Julian Nixon was a highly-touted wide receiver, but he didn’t play this year, spending the season moving over to tight end. Another tight end, Miles Campbell, was in on special teams plays and had two kickoff returns for 25 yards. Wide receiver Walker Merrill, meanwhile, had five catches for 52 yards.

However, it’s pretty obvious the one offensive true freshman who stood out here. Jaylen Wright, recruited as a speedster running back for Tennessee football who was a three-star across the board, got better down the stretch of the season and began to complement Jabari Small perfectly.

Wright had 85 carries for 409 yards and four touchdowns while adding six receptions for 22 yards. Of those yards, 313 came after the start of November, meaning Josh Heupel began to turn to him more and more as he developed, and it worked out.

Then there’s the Music City Bowl, where Wright clearly scored a touchdown but had forward progress arbitrarily ruled against him. Still, he’s a bright part of the Vols’ future. As a speedster out of North Carolina who runs a 4.28 40, Wright is UT’s all-purpose back of the future. The graduate of Southern High School in Durham, N.C. will make a great duo with Small.

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