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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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Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (23) warms up during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (23) warms up during a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.Kns Tennessee Bowling Green Football /

Biggest questions

1. Will anybody emerge to co-start with Jabari Small as the feature back?

Given the fact that Tennessee football likes to run two feature backs and didn’t have that option last year after losing Tiyon Evans, this is a good question. Is this why they added Lyn-J Dixon? Will Jaylen Wright emerge, or will he stay in his role? Is Justin Williams-Thomas ready? Could Dylan Sampson shock everybody and take over? This is what Jerry Mack has to work on.

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2. Who will become the primary all-purpose back?

You would assume that Wright would fill this role since he emerged late last year, but the addition of Dixon throws it for a loop. Both seem to have not touched their ceiling yet, and it’s possible Heupel uses both by-committee, but Sampson is also on the roster. How much of a leap Wright takes is a huge factor here, but this is now wide open.

3. How will the Vols improve on short-yardage plays?

We know about the bad call in the Music City Bowl, but the Vols struggled all year on short-yardage plays. Len’Neth Whitehead being healthy was supposed to help that, but he’s now out for the season, and adding Dixon doesn’t fix this issue. As a result, there are many questions as to whether the Vols can fix this one issue for 2022, but part of the improvement starts on the line.

Final take

Initially, Tennessee football should have been set with its three-headed monster. Small is perfectly positioned to be the feature back, Wright the all-purpose back and Whitehead was the power back. However, Whitehead’s injury leaves no power backs, and UT needs another feature back. Dixon creates competition at all-purpose back.

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The best guess at this point is Williams-Thomas emerging to co-start with Small as a true freshman at feature back and then Dixon and Wright splitting time as the all-purpose back. That would give Josh Heupel a solid rotation of running backs he needs. As a result, while power back is a problem, the Vols have the necessary depth at the position in general now.

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