Tennessee football: Top 10 SEC stars Vols have to account for in 2022
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Kentucky Wildcats. Chris Rodriguez Jr.. 4. player. Running back. 833
5’11” 224 pounds
Star running backs considered on this list included Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs, who just transferred from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets after gaining over 1,200 yards last year. Questions about Gibbs in the SEC just kept him off the list, though, and with the Missouri Tigers losing Tyler Badie, Rodriguez is the leading returning rusher in SEC play.
This is enough to put Rodriguez above UK quarterback Will Levis, who is also a problem and gave Tennessee football serious trouble last year. Rodriguez is the catalyst for the offense, though. He gained 1,328 yards on 225 carries, averaging over six yards a carry, and scored 10 touchdowns.
It’s worth adding that while he only caught 13 passes for 61 yards, he scored three touchdowns on those receptions. As a result, he had 13 total touchdowns and nearly 1,400 total yards from scrimmage alone, so he truly is a force to be dealt with. It won’t be easy for UT.
Last year, Rodriguez had 109 yards on 22 carries against Tennessee football. This is somewhat shocking because you’d usually expect a Mark Stoops player to be on defense, but this year, his weapons seem to be more on offense. Rodriguez easily fits into that category. He could be a dark-horse Heisman contender this year.