Tennessee football’s top 10 in-state players for 2022
Pick Analysis. Running back. 1. Scouting Report. Junior. Jabari Small. player. 839
5’11” 213 pounds
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Yes, we go to another set of high school teammates. The top six players on this list are three sets of high school in-state teammates who came out in the class. With two of them coming out of Briarcrest Christian in Eads, Tenn., it’s clear where Tennessee football is strongest this year.
Jabari Small is another Memphis kid, as Shelby County is clearly the dominant county for in-state talent in general. Of all six players, though, he was the only one without a four-star rating on any service, and he’s the most important in-state player. That’s based off the system Josh Heupel runs and his production.
Last year, Small emerged as the feature back after Tiyon Evans got hurt and subsequently entered the transfer portal. He finished the season with with 141 carries for 796 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 77 yards.
Remember, Small was the third-string back behind Eric Gray and Ty Chandler in 2020. After both transferred, he was still behind Evans, so he truly had to wait his shot to perform. When he got it, though, he didn’t let it go to waste.
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Heupel’s system is predicated on a strong rushing attack to set up his elite passing offense, so Tennessee football will need Small even more in 2022 since he’s the full-time starter now. As a result, he’s the Vols’ most important player from within the state.