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Tennessee football: 10 key 2022 Vols who were three-star rated recruits or lower

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue
Tennessee running back Jabari Small (2) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown at the 2021 Music City Bowl NCAA college football game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021.Kns Tennessee Purdue /
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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 /

Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Junior. Jabari Small. Running back. 2. player. 839

5’11” 213 pounds

When Tennessee football added Jabari Small out of Memphis in 2020, there were low expectations for the three-star in-state kid. Fellow Shelby County running back Eric Gray was already emerging as a superstar for UT after the way he finished 2019, and he was only a sophomore the next year. Ty Chandler was still on the team too.

As a result, the graduate of Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tenn., seemed like he’d never be a factor, even as he became the third-string back that season. A year later, with Gray and Chandler having transferred, Small burst onto the scene as a star.

He still had to split time with junior college transfer Tiyon Evans, but Evans got hurt in the middle of the season and then entered the transfer portal in November. As a result, Small became this team’s primary back, and he had 141 carries for 796 yards and nine touchdowns while catching nine passes for 77 yards.

Now, Small is the undisputed feature back for Tennessee football entering 2022. Despite his reputation with quarterbacks in the passing game, Heupel’s offense is driven by the run, so Small’s play will be critical. He is also positioned to rack up tons of stats this year.

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