All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football’s 10 underclassmen most likely to leave early for 2023 NFL Draft

By Caleb Calhoun

Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 10
Next
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) after running for a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) after running for a touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick Analysis. Running back. player. Scouting Report. Junior. Jabari Small. 1. 839

5’11” 213 pounds

Related Story. Ranking all 15 first NFL Draft classes of Vols head coaches. light

Skill players are Tennessee football’s best chance to produce NFL talent with the systems Josh Heupel likes to run on both sides of the ball. Only one skill player is a returning underclassman and pretty much guaranteed to start. Once again, he’s a Briarcrest kid out of Memphis.

Yes, Jabari Small and Omari Thomas, teammates at their Shelby County school, could be the two underclassmen who come out next year. Tiyon Evans was supposed to be the main running back last year and was the best back early, but injuries limited him late, and then he entered the transfer portal. Enter Small.

With Jaylen Wright as his backup and Len’Neth Whitehead providing value as the power back, Small became the most important all-around back for Tennessee football. He finished the year with 141 carries for 796 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns while catching nine passes for 77 yards.

The year before, Small showed promise backing up Ty Chandler and Eric Gray. As the third-string back and a freshman, he had 26 carries for 117 yards (4.5 yards per attempt) and four catches for 24 yards. After both entered the portal, Small waited his turn and took advantage of it once the Evans situation unraveled last year.

Next. Top 10 NFL Vols who weren't first-round draft picks. dark

Now, Small enters this year as undoubtedly Tennessee football’s No. 2 weapon behind Cedric Tillman. Josh Heupel’s system, despite its tempo, relies on the run first, so Small will have plenty of chances to shine, and that makes him easily the top underclassman who could enter the pros next year.

Home/Vols Football