Tag: Jabari Small

The SEC’s top returning running backs based on production

The Auburn duo hopes for big things in 2022.

The SEC as a whole is seeing a lot of talented running backs exit following the 2021 campaign. Of the top 10 rushers last season, only four are set to play in 2022 with their original team.

The good news for Auburn is that two of the top backs returning for 2022 just happen to be on the current roster. They likely will need to have big campaigns to help prevent the outcome of 2021.

The 2021 leading rusher Tyler Badie of Missouri is off to the NFL, as well as the No. 3 player on the SEC rushing list Brian Robinson Jr of Alabama. We dive into the top five returns based on their production in 2021.

Prediciting every SEC teams leading rusher in 2022

Here are projections for the top running backs in the SEC next year.

The 2021 season may have just ended, but it is never too early to look ahead to next year.

The SEC has embraced the pass-heavy offences that are sweeping the college football landscape but that has not prevented the conference from continued to have some of the best running backs in the country. That should once again be the case in 2022 as several running backs will be looking to build on previous seasons and several talented backs have transferred in from other conferences.

Here is an early look at every team’s leading rusher next season.

Jerome Carvin, Jabari Small meet with media ahead of Music City Bowl

Jerome Carvin and Jabari Small meet with media ahead of the Music City Bowl.

Tennessee will conclude its 2021 season Thursday against Purdue in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

The contest will take place at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. EST and ESPN will televise the matchup.

Ahead of the matchup, senior offensive lineman Jerome Carvin and sophomore running back Jabari Small met with media.

Below is a transcript of Carvin and Small’s media availability provided by the University of Tennessee.

Jerome Carvin

On having major contributors returning to Rocky Top next season

“It has to do with this staff, the culture, the locker room, just playing with our brothers again, our teammates. I’ve been a part of some rough times since I’ve been here, but we’ve got a bright future ahead of us and there’s a lot of things we can do.”

On the feeling of the Music City Bowl since he is returning next season

“It’s like a statement game, if that makes sense. We have to show what we can do, especially with this offense and the team that we’re playing against. We are playing a really good Big 10 team. It’s a statement game.”

On having the chance to play in an NFL stadium

“We haven’t really thought about it too much. My first game as a freshman, we played in Carolina, so I don’t really think about it too much. We will play anywhere. If there is a field with lines, we’re good.”

Jabari Small

On picking up where the team left off at the end of the regular season after a month off

“We’ve been preparing for the past three weeks. We’ve been actually doing the same routine that we’ve been doing, so we’ve just got to focus and then reboot. I think it’ll be a fun, fun game.”

On finishing the season off the right way

“I think it’s a big deal, just so people can get a glimpse of what we can be next year and starting off on the right foot for 2022. It’s just important, finishing off strong, just finishing what we started.”

On key Tennessee players returning and how that sets the tone for the future

“It means a lot. It’s a lot of leadership and experience. They’re veterans. We can only get better. They’ll hold us to a standard, and we will try to follow that. Those guys are extremely talented, have bright futures and could make a lot of money one day, so the fact that they want to come back means a lot.”

[vertical-gallery id=51464]

Josh Heupel details Tennessee’s skill players stepping up this spring

Josh Heupel details Tennessee’s skill players stepping up this spring.

Tennessee practiced for the 11th time this spring on Saturday.

Saturday’s practice took place at Neyland Stadium and was Tennessee’s second scrimmage this spring.

First-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media following the Vols’ scrimmage. He discussed which skill players that have stepped up during Tennessee’s two spring scrimmages.

“I don’t know that it’s been the same guys,” Heupel said. “I think you see guys periodically throughout practice or throughout the scrimmage make some plays. I think at the running back position, Jabari Small has done a fantastic job. He understands how we want to play. He understands what we’re doing. He’s been good without the ball in his hands and not just with the ball in his hands at the running back position. I feel like he’s in a really good spot, and he does some really good things. Dee Beckwith has had some flashes at the running back position, as well. He’s starting to understand how to play that position. A unique guy in that he’s played multiple positions in a short amount of time coming out of high school, having played some quarterback as well. He’s grown into a guy that is understating the running back position, learning how to play with pad leverage. His size is a positive, but he’s also got to learn how to get pad under pad, and he’s starting to do that.

“The tight ends, that group have all made plays. (Austin) Pope coming back off of injury, he’s done some really good things, obviously, he’s the most mature guy in the room or has the most experience. Princeton Fant has made plays. (Jacob) Warren has made plays. That’s a group that has great depth and a lot of consistency in it. They are able to play in the box and outside. At the wide receiver position, I’ve talked about those guys before, but I like that group as far as their understanding and competitive nature. Velus Jones Jr., (Cedric) Tillman have made some plays. Jalin Hyatt has made some plays, getting back on the practice field here and done a really good job.”

Tennessee will conclude spring practices with its annual Chevrolet Orange & White Game on April 24 at Neyland Stadium.

Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. EDT.

Alex Golesh discusses how Jabari Small ‘has been really impressive’

2021 Tennessee Vols’ football spring practices.

Tennessee has kicked off spring practices under first-year head coach Josh Heupel.

Following the Vols’ second spring practice on Saturday, Tennessee offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Alex Golesh met with media.

Golesh mentioned how sophomore running back Jabari Small “has been really impressive” throughout the early part of spring.

“That’s a guy that I think we were all excited to see what he can do,” Golesh said of Small.

As a freshman in 2020, Small played in all of Tennessee’s games of a 10-game Southeastern Conference-only season.

The 5-foot-11, 206-pound running back totaled 117 yards on 26 attempts. Small recorded four receptions for 24 yards.

[vertical-gallery id=38409]

March 25, 2021 – Running back Jabari Small #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers during spring practice on the Robert E. White indoor field in the Anderson Training Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Tee Hodge, Jabari Small have been ‘really steady for freshmen’ during fall camp

Tee Hodge, Jabari Small have been ‘really steady for freshmen’ during fall camp.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee has kicked off its third week of fall training camp ahead of the 2020 season.

The Vols’ running back unit is headlined by senior Ty Chandler and sophomore Eric Gray. Tennessee has brought in freshmen to help provide depth within the unit behind Chandler and Gray.

Tee Hodge/Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Jeremy Pruitt discussed a pair of in-state freshmen running backs following the Vols’ eight practice of camp.

“Tee Hodge and Jabari Small have been really steady for freshmen,” Pruitt said on a Zoom call. “They have a lot to learn, obviously, every freshman does. Whether it’s pass protection or holding onto the football or staying on their feet in practice. Both guys are really good competitors, they’re very smart, they have really good hands, they’re instinctive. Both of those guys, they’ll both play this year.”

KNOXVILLE, TN – AUGUST 19, 2020 – Running back Jabari Small #20 of the Tennessee Volunteers during 2020 Fall Camp practice on Haslam Field in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

Tee Hodge played at Maryville High School and enters his freshman campaign at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds.

Small, from Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, stands at 6-foot, 200-pounds.

Recruiting Player Profile: Jabari Small

Recruiting Player Profile: Jabari Small

KNOXVILLE – As Tennessee football brings in new talent during the Early Signing Period, Vols Wire is releasing player profiles on each individual that signs with UT.

Find out recruiting ratings, key skills, stats and which other programs had offers on the table for each Tennessee signee.

Tennessee added to its running back depth on Wednesday by signing another Memphis product in three-star running back Jabari Small. Standing at 5-foot-10, 193-pounds, Small was recruited heavily by his Briarcrest Christian High School teammate Omari Thomas. Thomas signed with the Vols on Wednesday, as well.

As an elusive all-purpose-back, Small racked up 26 touchdowns for Briarcrest and finished the season as a finalist for the Tennessee Titans DII-AAA Mr. Football Award, which his teammate Omari Thomas won.

Rated as the No. 11 all-purpose-back in the country, Small was committed to Ole Miss, and reconsidered after the firing of head coach Matt Luke. Small will join a running back room for Tennessee that has four scholarship players returning, along with another running back commitment in Maryville product Tee Hodge.

Stay tuned to Vols Wire for more player profiles on each Tennessee signee during the Early Signing Period.

Jabari Small signs with Tennessee

Jabari Small signs with Tennessee.

2020 University of Tennessee football recruiting
2019 Early Signing Period — Dec. 18-20
National Signing Day — Feb. 5

[jwplayer OSBA6oIu-er0jUifI]

KNOXVILLE — The 2019 Early Signing Period for football is underway. Tennessee is in the process of completing its 2020 football recruiting class.

Below is the Vols’ latest signee for the 2020 recruiting class.

Jabari Small

Briarcrest Christian (Memphis, Tennessee)

Running back — 5-foot-10, 190-pounds

Committed on December 10, 2019

Signed on December 18, 2019

2020 recruiting class signing dates

The 2019 Early Signing Period will take place Dec. 18-20 and National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 5.

The Vols’ 2020 commitment tracker can be followed below.

The University of Tennessee Volunteer’s 2020 football recruiting class tracker

Jabari Small commits to Tennessee

2020 Tennessee football recruiting.

MEMPHIS — In-state running back Jabari Small has committed to Tennessee.

Small decommitted from Ole Miss on Dec. 2.

The 2020 prospect is from Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tenn. Tennessee offered Small on June 25, 2018, after visiting UT.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound prospect committed to the Rebels on July 28. Ole Miss fired head coach Matt Luke after three seasons. Luke finished with a 15-21 record during his tenure with the Rebels.

2020 recruiting class signing dates

The 2019 Early Signing Period will take place Dec. 18-20 and National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 5.

The Vols’ 2020 commitment tracker can be followed below.

University of Tennessee’s 2020 football recruiting class tracker

In-state running back Jabari Small has decommitted from Ole Miss

Class of 2020 football recruiting.

[jwplayer OSBA6oIu-er0jUifI]

MEMPHIS — In-state running back Jabari Small has decommitted from Ole Miss.

The 2020 prospect is from Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tenn.

Tennessee offered Small on June 25, 2018, after visiting UT.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound prospect committed to the Rebels on July 28. Ole Miss fired head coach Matt Luke Sunday after three seasons. Luke finished with a 15-21 record during his tenure with the Rebels.

2020 recruiting class signing dates

The 2019 Early Signing Period will take place Dec. 18-20 and National Signing Day will be held on Feb. 5.

The Vols’ 2020 commitment tracker can be followed below.

University of Tennessee’s 2020 football recruiting class tracker