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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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Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) during warm ups before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers running back Jabari Small (2) during warm ups before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Starters returning at RB

Jabari Small

  • 5’11” 213 pounds
  • Junior
  • Memphis, Tenn. (Briarcrest Christian)

Before Tiyon Evans got hurt and subsequently entered the transfer portal, he and Jabari Small were co-starters with Tennessee football. However, now that Evans is gone, Small is the only returning feature back. He waited patiently behind Ty Chandler and Eric Gray as a freshman and then somewhat behind Evans last year.

However, when Small got his chance, he made the most of it. He finished the year with 141 carries for 796 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns. Add in his nine catches for 77 yards, and he was second on the team only to Cedric Tillman in yards from scrimmage last year.

Entering this year, Small figures to take another step forward. Jerry Mack has shown himself to be a rising star and one who can develop talent, so another year with Small in Josh Heupel’s system gives him a chance for a historic year. You can bet that he’ll see a lot of touches.

Small knows how to show up in big games and make the most of his carries, as he did with his crucial touchdown run against the Kentucky Wildcats. It’s unlikely he’ll remain the sole feature back this year, as Heupel, Mack and Alex Golesh prefer to have two plus a power back and all-purpose back, but Small will still be the main guy.

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