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Tennessee football’s top 10 returning underclassmen in 2022 spring practice

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates the touchdown of running back Jabari Small (2) against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates the touchdown of running back Jabari Small (2) against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates a touchdown during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) celebrates a touchdown during an SEC conference game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021.Kns Tennessee Vanderbilt Football /

Sophomore. Jaylen Wright. 5. Pick Analysis. 839. Scouting Report. Running back. player

5’11” 200 pounds

A 2021 signee who was all about speed, Jaylen Wright was supposed to be buried in the depth chart at first, even with Josh Heupel taking over. However, he burst onto the scene down the stretch. It’s fitting. He’s a North Carolina kid who stood out for Tennessee football as a Tennessee kid, Ty Chandler, transferred from the Vols to shine with the UNC Tar Heels last year.

Anyway, the graduate of Southern High School in Durham County, N.C., initially was at best third on the depth chart. However, Tiyon Evans, the Vols’ most productive running back the first half of the season, battled injuries and then entered the transfer portal.

That made Wright the feature all-purpose back. He made the most of his opportunities with 85 carries for 409 yards and four touchdowns while catching six passes for 22 yards. Len’Neth Whitehead had a similar trajectory as the power back with Tee Hodge transferring and him beating out Dee Beckwith, who has since transferred as well.

Wright, though, saw lots more action as the all-purpose back than Whitehead did as the power back, so he makes the list. In Josh Heupel’s system, he’s perfectly positioned to thrive and be a deadly weapon, and he showed in the bowl game he can be a power runner too.

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