Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright declares for the NFL Draft
Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright announced on social media Friday that he was foregoing his senior season in 2024 by declaring for the NFL Draft. Sources tell Volquest he will be opting out of Tennessee’s match up with Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrust Bowl on January 1st as Wright has an agent and has started the NFL process.
All glory to God
— jaylen wright (@__jw12) December 15, 2023
VFL🧡 pic.twitter.com/Gw5WgGaYD7
Wright had a terrific junior campaign 2023 rushing for 1013 yards on just 137 carries. Wright also had 22 carries on 141 yards. Wright was the first 1000-yard rusher for the Vols since Jalen Hurd did it in 2015. Wright averaged 7.4 yards a carry which is the second highest single season per carry average behind Hank Lauricella’s 7.9 yard average in 1951. Wright’s 7.4 yards a carry led SEC running backs and his 1013 yards was good for 4th among tailbacks in the SEC in 2023.
Wright had a great offseason as he worked on his strength and it showed as he had 592 yards after contact and Wright only 19 yards lost this season.
Wright finishes his Tennessee career with 2,297 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 2,297 is good for 13th all time in school history and was just 781 yards alway from Travis Henry’s career record of 3,078 which is tops in school history.
Wright signed with former Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt as a speed guy weighing around 185 pounds. He visited as a complete back at 210 pounds as he developed under running backs coach Jerry Mack, developing his power, vision and feel in Josh Heupel’s offense.
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“My running style has changed a lot since my first year. I just try to run hard and physical. My thing is to not get tackled by the first man. Always try to make that first guy miss,” Wright said.
“The game has really slowed down for me now,” Wright said. “That comes from me watching more film and studying more backs. Just knowing the ends and outs and details of the game. I try to be very detailed in everything I do. Just knowing the why’s behind everything we do.”
Tennessee senior Jabari Small is expected to move on for 2024 and not just his COVID year of eligibility which leaves the Vols with Dylan Sampson as the returning veteran. Sampson had 471 yards and 7 touchdowns this fall. Behind Sampson for the bowl game and next season is expected to be Cam Seldon who had 12 carries for 51 yards in 12 games this fall.
Both Sampson and Seldon will handle the workload in the bowl game in Orlando.
