Jabari Small is 'not a rah-rah guy', but he's leading Tennessee's running backs in his own way

Jabari Small underwent shoulder surgery in January to address the nagging injury that slowed him during the 2022 season. That meant being nothing more than a spectator when spring practice rolled around.

One fall camp got here, Tennessee’s veteran running back was ready for some contact.

“I haven’t played in a long time,” Small said after Friday’s Tennessee football practice, “so I was just excited to get back out there, get back in a groove of things. And honestly just trying to push myself. just obviously trying to get better from last year (and) become more physical as a player.

“Just itching to get back out there.”

Small being able to diagnose what he needed entering his senior season is his strength, according to Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack.

“I think the first thing was Jabari understanding some of his deficiencies,,” Mack said on Friday, “and that’s helped. He got that addressed in the offseason.” 

Another strength is knowing what he wants for the next phase of his football career and acting on it. 

“The next part is all these guys have aspirations to go on to the National Football League,” Mack said, “and on the field and off the field, he’s really approached everything like a pro.”

Jabari Small: 1,643 career yards, 22 TDs, 5.1 yards per carry

Small ran for 734 yards and 13 touchdowns in 13 games last season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry on his 157 attempts. Over his first three seasons with the Vols, he has carried 323 times for 1,643 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Where Mack has seen “tremendous growth” from Small, though, has been off he field. Specifically, the meeting room.

“(Knowing) not only just what his assignment is,” Mack said, “and what he wants to do, but Jabari’s also very good at understanding the blocking schemes, understanding what the offensive lineman jobs, the receiver’s job is like, all those different things. 

“He’s really grown in the offense going into year three. Understanding his job, his responsibility is pretty easy now. He’s trying to be a pro and an expert and understanding how everything fits together.”

He’s trying to lead by example in a crowded, talented group of Tennessee running backs.

Small and junior Jaylen Wright are the big names, but sophomore Dylan Sampson and freshmen Cameron Seldon, DeSean Bishop and Khalifa Keith seem to give the Vols a bright future at the position.

‘(His) teammates see it, his teammates understand that’

“I honestly just want to feed into those guys,” Small said. “Everything that I’ve learned so far in my experience being in college, I take it personal and trying to make sure those guys are in the best position possible when it’s their time.

“I let them know you could play earlier than you maybe are ready for. Just being ready for multiple situations, I think I’ll be a big help for them just as far as like making sure they have little tidbits and pieces being ready in their time.”

That kind of guidance, and that kind of leadership, is another area of growth for the reserved Small. Mack described him as “a quiet leader.”

“He’s not a rah-rah guy,” Mack said. “Jabari’s not gonna be the loudest all the time. He’s just kind of leading by example. He’s the first one in the meetings. He brings a (note) pad, he’s taking notes like. And guys respect those guys that are pros. They look at those guys, they see those guys.”

They see Small leading with his habits more than his words.

“He knows what he has to do to take that next step,” Mack said. “(His) teammates see it, his teammates understand that. Like this guy right here, that’s who I would like to be like, from the standpoint of just the way he goes about carrying his business.”