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Tennessee football 2022 preview by position: RB

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) and running backs coach Jerry Mack walk off the field together after losing to Purdue 48-45 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 Jaylen Wright (20) and running backs coach Jerry Mack walk off the field together after losing to Purdue 48-45 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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Despite all the talk surrounding Josh Heupel’s passing offense, his system works best when it relies more on the run. The UCF Knights got worse offensively each year just as their passing totals increased each year. Now with Tennessee football, there is a direct correlation to Hendon Hooker’s success and what the run game does.

The Vols obviously went through a period of turmoil last year. Their two two running backs from the previous two years, Ty Chandler and Eric Gray, both transferred out. Gray was their rising star and at the center of the NCAA investigation that got Jeremy Pruitt fired in the first place.

Anyway, Tennessee football was able to rebound with a collection of newcomers and a couple of returning guys who stayed loyal, and that has set them up nicely this year. Our preview at running back will look at those players in depth. As usual, we’ll separate slides by who’s gone, who’s back, newcomers and biggest questions.

Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack during Tennessee football spring practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 10
Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack during Tennessee football spring practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 10 /

Starters gone: 0

You could put a bit of an asterisk by this, as the Vols’ most efficient running back from last year is indeed gone. Tiyon Evans, a junior college transfer, stepped in and was the feature back through the first half of the season, carrying the ball 81 times for 525 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and six touchdowns while catching four passes for 74 yards and a score.

However, Evans got banged up midway through the season and saw his role decrease. He then entered the transfer portal in November and has since landed with the Louisville Cardinals. As a result, there are questions about how UT can navigate a full season without Evans.

Backups gone: 1

Dee Beckwith, Fred Orr

Before Dee Beckwith, Tee Hodge had entered the transfer portal last preseason. Both guys are power backs who lost out to another player, and that’s why they’re gone. Beckwith had just one carry with Tennessee football. He’s now with the Kentucky Wildcats. Fred Orr, meanwhile, was a walk-on who hasn’t landed anywhere yet.

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