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Tennessee football: 4 players who (probably) won’t be back in 2024

By Josh Yourish

Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (0) dodges Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Andru Phillips (23) to strike first with a Volunteer touchdown early in the first quarter Saturday in Lexington. Oct. 28, 2023.
Tennessee Volunteers running back Jaylen Wright (0) dodges Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Andru Phillips (23) to strike first with a Volunteer touchdown early in the first quarter Saturday in Lexington. Oct. 28, 2023. /
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Without Hendon Hooker at quarterback, Josh Heupel couldn’t replicate the success of his second year in Knoxville, when he got the Volunteers to No. 1 in the CFP rankings before a few late-season losses.

Coming off the Orange Bowl victory, Heupel handed the keys of his offense to Joe Milton and it just isn’t the same. Tennessee has hit a low point in its season after a 36-7 loss to Missouri in Week 11.

Now, eyes have turned to 2024 when it’ll be Nico Iamaleava’s turn at quarterback. It’s not too early to start to wonder who will be back for the Volunteers as they take another run at the SEC title. These are the players with remaining eligibility that will either head for the NFL draft or the transfer portal this offseason.

Unless you’re a true powerhouse program, there are going to be ebbs and flows in the SEC, but Josh Heupel’s third season is coming to an end and there isn’t much NFL talent on this roster. There aren’t many draft-eligible underclassmen that NFL teams will be interested in at all. The likely potential NFL picks are Joe Milton, Tyler Baron, Bru McCoy, and Kamal Hadden, and all four are seniors.

Knoxville should be an important stop for NFL scouts, but this season that’s not the case. So, most on this list are potential transfers.

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (0) runs with the ball during the NCAA college football game against Missouri on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in Columbia, MO.
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (0) runs with the ball during the NCAA college football game against Missouri on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in Columbia, MO. /

1. Jaylen Wright, junior

I said that there aren’t many underclassmen who will be off to the NFL Draft, but I didn’t say there aren’t any. Wright is averaging 7.2 yards per carry as Tennessee’s No. 1 running back and in the SEC, efficiency like that does not go unnoticed.

With the way that running back has been devalued in the NFL, I think any college running back who has a chance of playing in the league, should head there as soon as possible.

Running backs are breaking down physically faster than ever, so getting to the league healthy and fresh gives backs like Wright the best chance to cash in on a second contract. That’s where the real money is, even if very few backs are getting second deals.

Wright could head back to Tennessee, but he’ll likely be usurped by Dylan Sampson who is averaging 5.7 yards per carry as a sophomore and is third on the team in carries, but first with seven touchdowns and second in yards.

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