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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 Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a touchdown during a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp
Tennessee running back Tiyon Evans (8) runs for a touchdown during a NCAA football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football Bp /

Pick Analysis. Junior. Tiyon Evans. 2. player. Scouting Report. 839. Running back

5’11” 220 pounds

He may have entered the transfer portal, but Tiyon Evans still did enough before then to make this list. Before Jaylen Wright emerged in November and Jabari Small became the feature back, Evans was Tennessee football’s top rusher and honestly seemed like their best player for a while.

A junior college commitment to the Vols out of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas who is initially from South Carolina, Evans was immediately expected to become UT’s feature back after the transfers of Ty Chandler and Eric Gray. The graduate of Hartsville High School in Darlington County, S.C. was a three-star on Rivals and four-star on 247Sports and ESPN.

Despite missing six games due to injury, including the last four, Evans had 81 carries for 521 yards and six touchdowns, averaging a team-best 6.4 yards a carry. He also had four receptions for 74 yards and another touchdown, so he was an elite offensive weapon when healthy.

It’s unfortunate for the Vols that Evans entered the portal, but they will be fine at running back with Wright, Small and Len’Neth Whitehead. They also have some talent coming in. However, Evans was clearly the best back this past year, and had he stayed healthy, he could have hit 1,000 yards on the season.

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