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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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Running Back LenÕNeth Whitehead during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0779
Running Back LenÕNeth Whitehead during Tennessee football spring practice at University of Tennessee on Saturday, March 26, 2022.Kns Ut Spring Fball 5 0779 /

Backups returning at RB

Jaylen Wright

  • 5’11” 200 pounds
  • Sophomore
  • Durham, N.C. (Southern High School)

After Tiyon Evans hit the transfer portal, Jaylen Wright began to emerge for Tennessee football. The speedy back showed some power late as well. He finished the year with 85 carries for 409 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and four touchdowns, but he should’ve had one more, as he was robbed of a score on a fourth down in overtime of the Music City Bowl.

That bad call cost UT the game. Anyway, Wright, who also had six catches for 22 yards, showed the promise of being a rising star. While Ty Chandler transferred to the North Carolina Tar Heels, Wright provided the Vols another crucial option from that state, and he’ll be the main all-purpose back this year.

Patrick Wilk

  • 5’11” 200 pounds
  • Redshirt Freshman
  • Nashville, Tenn. (Montgomery Bell Academy)

A walk-on running back who didn’t see any action with Tennessee football last year, Patrick Wilk is not likely to make an impact. However, it’s worth noting he’s another player on the roster.

Injuries

Len’Neth Whitehead 

  • 6’2″ 220 pounds
  • Redshirt sophomore
  • Athens, Ga. (Athens Academy)

While Wright will be the clear all-purpose back, Len’Neth Whitehead was set be the power back. This is why Tee Hodge and Dee Beckwith eventually transferred. Whitehead finished the year with 32 carries for 207 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and two touchdowns, and he also had a 10-yard catch. As a result, he’s efficient with his power.

However, it was revealed the day before fall camp that Whitehead would miss the season due to an upper-body injury. This comes after he battled injuries throughout a lot of last season. As a result, UT has no power back on the roster, and that has created an issue.

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