Vols RB Jabari Small declares for NFL Draft, won’t play in Citrus Bowl
Jabari Small is set to leave Tennessee after four years and more than 2,100 rushing yards for his home-state Vols.
After four good years of service to Tennessee’s offense, Jabari Small is ready for the next chapter of his football career. The running back on Friday revealed his plans for next season, announcing via social media that he would enter the 2024 NFL Draft. A Memphis native who started his Tennessee career in 2020, Small, who will not play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against Iowa in Orlando on New Year’s Day, totaled more than 2,100 rushing yards for the Vols and scored 26 touchdowns as a fixture in the backfield for each of the past three seasons.
Small had been leaning during the middle part of the season toward returning to Tennessee and using his extra season to play again in 2024, but those plans changed as the conclusion of the regular season neared and he went through Senior Day ahead of the Vanderbilt game at Neyland Stadium last month.
Running back is another position for Tennessee that’s undergoing significant changes after the 2023 season with Jaylen Wright, the team’s leading rusher for each of the past two seasons, also expected to jump to the NFL Draft after a 1,013-yard junior season.
“DEAR VOL NATION –
“First I want to thank God for allowing me to be in this position. Without Him, none of this is possible. The opportunities that He has provided me have been nothing short of amazing.
“To my family: I can’t thank you enough for the constant support and love you all have given me on this journey. I am truly blessed to have a village that is in my corner. You all have been with me every step of the way, and I am truly thankful. You all are my motivation.
“To my teammates: The brotherhood and bond we’ve shared is forever and unbreakable. Only a few get to experience this special journey, and I’m grateful I got to do this with the guys in our locker room. I’ll always carry these memories with me wherever I go.
“To my coaches: I will forever be thankful for the guidance, mentorship and belief in me. You all have provided me with so many opportunities during my past four years here, which is all a player could ask for. I appreciate you all allowing the kid from Memphis to be himself and grow into the man I am today. The leadership has shaped and taught me in many ways, on and off the field. I am appreciative of every coach I’ve encountered over the past four years here at Tennessee.
“I want to express how this University has made my college football experience truly special. These past four years the support, love and cheers have made this chapter special and unforgettable. Though all of the wins, losses, injuries, shining moments, adversities and obstacles – I gave my all for Tennessee. As I step into this new chapter towards chasing my dreams, I will forever carry the pride and spirit of the University of Tennessee with me. After much prayer and consideration with my family, I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.”
Tennessee’s starting running back in both 2021 and 2022, Small finishes his career on Rocky Top with 2,122 yards and 24 touchdowns on 419 carries and 32 catches for 247 yards and two more scores in 45 games.
His career-best season for rushing yards was 2021, when he totaled 796 yards on 5.6 yards per carry in 11 games, and he scored 15 total touchdowns (13 rushing, two receiving) for Tennessee’s No. 1-ranked offense during the 11-win 2022 season.
After getting 141 carries in 2021 and 157 in 2022, though, Small saw his opportunities more limited this season, when he had just 95 carries. Wright took over as the starting back and sophomore Dylan Sampson was featured more and sometimes ahead of Small. The senior got double-digit carries in only four games and after missing the Connecticut game in November he got only 13 carries in the final three games.
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