Tennessee
VolReport – Tennessee run game posts most productive stretch in program history
The passing game gets a lot of attention in Josh Heupel‘s offense, but in his three seasons at Tennessee, it is the run game that has put up historic numbers.
Over the last three years, Vols’ running backs have put together the most productive stretch in program history, combining for more than 8,000 yards in 39 games.
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It marks the first time that a Tennessee backfield has produced 2,500-plus yards in three-straight seasons–all of which have been under the direction of running backs coach Jerry Mack.
In Heupel’s first season, the Vols totaled 2,832 rushing yards with an average of 217.8 yards per game, good for second in the SEC and 11th nationally.
Jabari Small led the group with 792 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry along with nine touchdowns on 140 carries.
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, who took over as the starter three games into the season, accounted for 620 yards and five touchdowns on 167 carries while transfer running back Tiyon Evans rushed for 525 yards and six scores, including a 156-yard and three touchdown performance in the Vols’ 62-24 win over Missouri that year.
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Even during Tennessee’s 11-win campaign in 2022 when Hooker was putting up astronomical numbers and breaking records every week in the passing game, the Vols were still running the ball effectively.
The numbers took a dip from the year before by 239 yards but Tennessee’s backfield trio of Small, Jaylen Wright and freshman Dylan Sampson helped combine for 2,593 yards.
Their average of 199.5 yards per game finished sixth in the league and ranked 26th in the FBS as Wright took over as the leading rusher with 875 yards and 10 touchdowns on 146 carries.
Small, who finished with 734 yards, led in scoring with 13 touchdowns and Sampson impressed in his first season with just under 400 yards.
After the departure of Hooker and wide receivers Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman, Tennessee’s passing game took a step back in 2023 and the Vols’ leaned heavily on the run as a result.
With Wright, Small and Sampson back, Tennessee rushed for 2,663 yards and finished first in the conference and ninth in the FBS with 204.8 yards per game.
Wright headlined the season, turning in six 113-plus yard rushing games and busted runs of 82, 75 and 52 yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He rushed for 1,013 yards to become Tennessee’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Jalen Hurd in 2015.
Sampson made a major jump from his freshman to sophomore year and essentially moved into the No. 2 spot behind Wright, going for 604 yards and six touchdowns on 106 carries.
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After Wright and Small declared for the NFL Draft, Sampson made his starting debut in the Vols’ Citrus Bowl clash with Iowa. He ran for 133 yards and averaged 6.7 yards every time he touched the ball.
With Sampson expected to be Tennessee’s featured back next season and Cam Seldon, Khalifa Keith and incoming freshman Peyton Lewis making up the rest of the room, the Vols are set up for potentially even more production in 2024.
Tennessee is also set to return a number of starters on its offensive line, including center Cooper Mays and tackle John Campbell Jr. as well as a highly touted transfer portal addition in former five star tackle Zalance Heard.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava should add an element to the run game, given his ability on design runs and getting out of the pocket, which he displayed in his first career start in the bowl game with three rushing touchdowns.
A position group that has stability at the top but questions behind the starter is running back. DeSean Bishop returns as the unquestioned starter after a dominant redshirt-sophomore year, but both the pieces behind him a year ago that split the load have departed.
Now, it’ll be a battle for reps between young returners Daune Morris and Justin Baker and Tulane transfer Javin Gordon. Tennessee has rotated up to three backs a game, as well, making a chance for two to be in a game-by-game position to contribute.
Bishop, the star of the room, has expectations that he could play his way into an NFL draft pick this upcoming year. This past season, he took 182 carries for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. That was good for a really strong average of 5.9 yards per tote.
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Gordon, the Tulane transfer, joins after his true freshman year with the Green Wave. While it wasn’t at the SEC level, he was very productive, posting 128 carries, 516 yards and five touchdowns.
Morris and Baker return after limited roles. Morris was the fourth back, meaning he got more run than Baker when injuries did occur. He finished his freshman year with 35 carries, 133 yards and a touchdown while also returning punts. Baker took 14 carries for 43 yards.
“It’s huge because you look at the production, you got a guy that understands what he’s walking into in terms of seeing it week in and week out in terms of the caliber of teams that we’re going against,” Tennessee running backs coach DeRail Sims said in the spring about Bishop returning. “His understanding of what it’s like when the game’s on the line and having to go out there and make plays in all three facets of the game, in running the ball, the protection piece, and the passing game. So it’s huge having Bish back.”
The other pieces of the running back room are three-star freshman Will Rajecki and redshirt-senior Hunter Barnes.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) – Traffic on Interstate 24 will be impacted Sunday as Middle Tennessee Electric crews conduct electrical line work.
MTE said crews will be performing electrical line work across I-24 near Exit 76 in Murfreesboro Sunday, June 28.
“The project will require one full interstate traffic stoppage and multiple rolling roadblocks beginning at sunrise,” MTE said. “The work is expected to take approximately five to six hours to complete.”
MTE said Guardian Traffic Control will assist with traffic management.
The work could be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Copyright 2026 WSMV. All rights reserved.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (WCYB) — Kids in Bristol got the chance to climb in some of their favorite trucks on Saturday.
Bristol Parks and Recreation hosted “Big Truck Day” at Bristol Tennessee City Hall.
The event included some of the kids’ favorite big trucks, a Bristol Motor Speedway pace car, face paint, and free popsicles.
Organizers say it’s great for kids to be able to see who’s behind those big trucks.
Parks and recreation officials say you can keep updated with their events on their Facebook page by clicking here.
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