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Tennessee football’s five biggest fall camp storylines for 2022

By Caleb Calhoun

Players warm up during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Practice
Players warm up during the first day of Tennessee football practice at Anderson Training Facility in Knoxville, Tenn. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.Kns Tennessee Football Practice /
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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 /

4. What is the running back depth like with Len’Neth Whitehead hurt?

It was brutal for Tennessee football when news came out Sunday that Len’Neth Whitehead had suffered a season-ending injury. Whitehead battled injuries last year but still managed 32 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns. This year, he was expected to be the feature power back for the Vols, a key part of Josh Heupel’s system.

Here’s the problem. With Whitehead hurt, UT has no other power backs. The Vols lost Tee Hodge to the transfer portal early last year, and Dee Beckwith left in the offseason because of Whitehead’s emergence. Given their issues on short-yardage running plays last year, not having a power back could be a huge concern.

Heupel did a good job on the recruiting trail this past year bringing in four-star Justin Williams-Thomas and three-star Dylan Sampson, but Williams-Thomas is more of a feature back like Jabari Small. Sampson is more of an all-purpose back like Jaylen Wright. These are the only four running backs on the roster too.

As a result, all of a sudden, this team is a bit thin at running back. How will Heupel, Alex Golesh and Jerry Mack address that going forward? This is one area where they will want to limit reps now, and it also leads to a larger question about the program entering fall camp.

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