Vols Secure Commitment from All Purpose Back Jabari Small
There is news regarding an excellent football player making his college decision coming out of Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, TN for the second day in a row. For the second day in a row, the decision was for the Tennessee Volunteers. On Monday, the Vols received a commitment from one of their top targets in the 2020 class, All-American and Briarcrest lineman Omari Thomas. Today, the Vols secured the commitment of his teammate and close friend, Jabari Small. Small is one of the highest rated running backs in the state of Tennessee this cycle. The Vols have been interested in Mr. Football finalist since early in his recruitment, but the star ball carrier for the Saints had, until recently, been committed to Ole Miss. Small's father was a two way player for the Rebels, playing receiver and corner. Despite interest from Tennessee and many others, Small had committed to the Rebels, and had not waivered even when he visited Tennessee with Thomas. Small was a frequent visitor in Oxford, and looked to be heading that way until Ole Miss fired former Head Coach Matt Luke. The Vols had been trying to get back into the picture with Small, but the firing of Luke caused Small to de-commit from the Rebels before announcing his intent to play for Tennessee today.
The Vols are adding a back that can do whatever is asked of him in the five foot ten inch, two hundred pound Small. On film, Small looks similar to another running back that the Vols have signed out of Memphis, current true freshman Eric Gray. Like Gray, Small runs with sometimes unexpected power between the tackles. He does not shy away from contact, and Small is able to run through even good form tackles at times. He is a thickly built back for his size, and he runs with a low center of gravity. This, combined with his strong legs and determination to keep his legs churning through contact make Small a difficult back to wrestle to the ground. Unless backs are large bruisers, there are typically some concerns with how well a runner can hold up to repeated punishment, particularly in the SEC. For Small, he carries enough muscle on his frame that he should be able to take the beating of an SEC runner. Small finishes runs strong, falling forward most of the time, and showing an ability to push the pile in traffic. Small is productive between the tackles, showing an ability to run with the attitude and results of a much larger back.
That toughness and strength helps to make Small into a back that can threaten all levels of a defense. Those three to four yard runs between the tackles can turn into a forty-yard gallop if Small gets a seam or breaks a tackle on the last man he has to beat. Small has the speed to be a homerun hitter for the Vols, a threat to turn a standard play into a score if he breaks into the open field. That speed is also displayed when Small attacks the corners of a defense on stretch, sweep, and off tackle runs. Small uses angles well when he runs, and that effectiveness as a runner in multiplied when he uses his speed to get to those corners. Small has the speed to get himself in space, and the quickness to shake down a defender when he gets there. He shows on film that he can use his short area quickness to juke away from contact with defenders, or execute a spin to bounce off contact and get into open space. Again, Small's low center of gravity makes him a low target for defenders, and his quickness makes him a target that can move out of range quickly.
Small brings another dimension to the Tennessee offense, however. Early in his career with the Saints, Briarcrest had exceptional, upperclassmen running backs. While he waited his turn in the backfield, Small was too good an athlete for Coach Brian Stewart to have on his bench. Stewart moved Small into the slot for the Saints, utilizing his speed and quickness as well as his excellent hands. Small showed that he was a solid high school route runner as a wide receiver for the Saints. His hands meant that he could make the Briarcrest offense more dangerous by adding a threatening receiver to the field. When Small moved to the backfield, he still gave the Saints an added dimension to the offense, this time as a receiver out of the backfield. Small runs very good routes out of the backfield, and he is comfortable motioning out of the backfield to lineup in the slot or out wide. Small's receiving ability is made more dangerous by his interior running. Small is a back that can stay on the field every down, and his presence doesn't tip a defense to key on a run or a pass. Small is dangerous on deep throws down the field, an effective safety valve, and can be lethal in the screen game. His hands, vision, and ability to feel and set up blockers contribute to him being so good on screens, but also being one of the most dangerous punt returners in the state of Tennessee. Small has the shiftiness, tackle breaking, hands, and speed to be a nightmare to kick to. While he will be fighting for carries in the running back rotation, Small could find the field early if he can fill the return role Marquez Callaway’s graduation will vacate.
Tennessee goes into Memphis and lands another impact player in the 2020 class. They again go head to head against multiple SEC schools and win. They also pull another set of close friends and teammates out of a winning program in Memphis to make the journey to Knoxville. Small is another complete running back to add into the rotation for the Vols, able to fill every role the position demands. Small is an intelligent, team first player that has earned the highest praise from his teachers, coaches, and teammates from Briarcrest. Small will come to Tennessee with the opportunity to make an impact as a freshman, but after Tim Jordan and Ty Chandler graduate at the conclusion of the 2020 season, Small will have an opportunity to be a major part of the Tennessee attack in his second year with the program.