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Tennessee football’s top 10 NFL Draft prospects for 2023

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917
Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman (4) warming up before the start of an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, September 18, 2021.Utvtech0917 /
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Nov 6, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2021; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports /

player. Scouting Report. Running back. 5. 839. Pick Analysis. Junior. Jabari Small

5’11” 213 pounds

Here we get to Josh Heupel’s system and how it’s designed to help certain players emerge. Jabari Small became Tennessee football’s feature back down the stretch of last year after splitting time with Tiyon Evans for the first half of the season. Evans getting hurt and subsequently entering the transfer portal made Small the feature back.

Another Memphis kid who graduated from Briarcrest Christian Academy in Shelby County, Small and Omari Thomas were teammates at the Eads, Tenn., school and stand out as the two underclassmen on this list who could turn pro. Everything is in place for Small to shine.

Last year, he had 141 carries for 796 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns while catching nine passes for 77 yards. He got better as the season went on, particularly as he stepped in full-time for Evans. Although Jaylen Wright, Len’Neth Whitehead and a group of young backs are there to push him, the main starting job is his.

With a full season and Heupel’s system, which is based on getting the running game going first despite its tempo, Small should turn into a star. Whether or not his measurables will make him a desirable NFL Draft prospect is a different story, but his production alone should.

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