Josh Heupel talks Jabari Small, who's next from the Vols running back room

Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel has his starting running back for 2022 in Jabari Small. After leading the Volunteers with 796 yards and nine touchdowns this past season, Small returns for his junior season as potentially one of the best running backs in the SEC.

But while there is no question that Small is set to lead the backfield, Tennessee is still trying to figure out who fits in behind him. Following the first scrimmage of fall camp, Heupel offered an update on Small and also identified a pair of freshmen who stood out.

“Jabari did a really good job today,” Heupel said. “Ran extremely well. I thought his keys took him to the right cut and he played with great in-and-out and pad level on contact. He probably got close to 25 or 30 reps today. Our young guys got a lot of work. Dylan (Sampson) and Justin (Williams). Going back and watching the tape, I was really pleased with how they functioned and played.

“Those two guys in training camp, obviously it’s Dylan’s first time working with us in a lot of situations. He’s grabbed on to playing and competing at this level. Understanding how to function and operate within our offensive system. He does a great job of delivering blocks and is a willing blocker, too. So I’m really pleased with the progress he’s made. Justin has come back a much different football player than he was as he finished spring ball. You guys have heard me through the summer talk about there’s a lot of time before we get to training camp. He’s taken advantage of that time. Done a better job at pass (protection), done a better job with his pad level on contact, done a better job with his keys and making the right cuts.”

Both Williams and Sampson are four-star recruits, with Williams coming in ranked slightly higher as the No. 16 running back according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. They will likely compete with sophomore Jaylin Wright, who rushed for 409 yards and four scores as a true freshman in 2021, for playing time behind Small.

Tennessee enters 2022 as one of the best offenses in the SEC on paper. After finishing third in the conference in both yards and points per game this past season, Josh Heupel returns not only Jabari Small, but also starting quarterback Hendon Hooker and leading receiver Cedric Tillman. That trio will put a lot of fear in opposing defenses, but it’s clear there are still some things to be sorted out behind them on the depth chart as fall camp continues.

The Volunteers are set to kick off the 2022 season on Sept. 1 against Ball State.