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Tennessee football: Top 10 breakout Vols from 2021 season

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Bowling Green Falcons during the first quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee defensive back Theo Jackson (26) runs on the field for warmups before a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football
Tennessee defensive back Theo Jackson (26) runs on the field for warmups before a game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.Kns Tennessee Florida Football /

player. Pick Analysis. Defensive back. Senior. Theo Jackson. 5. Scouting Report. 839

6’2″ 203 pounds

This one is wild because Theo Jackson had been staring games for Tennessee football every year dating back to his freshman season. However, he was doing it in a utility role. Comparing this to the 2019 season may have made it a bit difficult to call it a dramatic improvement, as that was his most productive year before 2021.

However, Jackson never had more than 53 tackles or 29 solo tackles in a season. He had 78 and 37 respectively this year, and that’s up from 31 and 19 respectively last years. Meanwhile, Jackson had nine and a half tackles for a loss despite never having more than one in any previous season.

Add in one and a half sacks, the first pick-six of his career and 11 pass deflections despite never having more than two in a season, and Jackson clearly broke out relative to where he was. There’s a reason he earned All-SEC, and settling in at nickel full time worked out perfectly for him.

Warren Burrell returning to full health had a chance to make this list, as did Doneiko Slaughter and Tamarion McDonald, both of whom showed signs last year. However, Slaughter and McDonald didn’t play as much, and Burrell’s production was an issue at times, which makes Jackson, despite plenty of experience, the main defensive back to make this list.

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