Running back shouldn’t be a position of concern for Tennessee fans as the Vols could have one of the top duos in the SEC in Jalen Hurd and JUCO newcomer Alvin Kamara, a “thunder” and “lightning” combination.

Although the UT offensive line must improve for Tennessee to have any success on the ground. The Vols running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because that line was a liability.

The backfield talent is there, though. Kamara was a touted recruit who signed with Alabama and he starred in junior college last year in Kansas, but it’s fair to call him an unknown despite promising signs in camp. And injuries are obviously a big a part of college football, so where would the Vols turn if Hurd and/or Kamara go down?

There are four options, and they aren’t great on the surface.

Jayson Sparks, redshirt sophomore: The 5-foot-7, 187-pounder is a walk-on from Grayson High School in Logansville, Ga. During a practice last week, Hurd was held out for undisclosed reasons. Kamara took all the first-team reps while Sparks and freshman Joe Young split the carries on the second team. Back in the spring when Hurd missed a scrimmage and Kamara was held out, Sparks was running with the first team and scored a 2-yard touchdown against the first-team defense. In the spring game, Sparks had 10 carries for 32 yards.

Joe Young, true freshman: The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Young, from Fairfield Central High in South Carolina, was a late recruit addition to the 2015 class. He was a three-star prospect who initially committed to Charlotte. Young was the No. 3 running back in the state and had 1,603 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior. Tailback was a position of need for UT after four-star Kendall Bussey flipped to Texas A&M leading up to signing day.

John Kelly Jr., true freshman: The 5-foot-9, 212-pound Kelly is from Oak Park High School outside Detroit and was a three-star recruit. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry as a senior, rushing 138 times for 1,321 yards and 21 scores. Kelly picked the Vols over Michigan and Michigan State.

Ralph Abernathy IV, redshirt senior: The 5-foot-6, 185-pound Abernathy is a graduate transfer from Cincinnati and the only scholarship upperclassman among the Vols running backs. He missed most of last season with lingering heel and hamstring ailments; the Bearcats had moved him from running back to slot receiver. For his career, Abernathy had 917 yards rushing (eight touchdowns) and 540 yards receiving (four touchdowns). Abernathy began his Cincinnati career under Vols coach Butch Jones, who left UC after the 2012 season for Tennessee. Abernathy’s brother is UT defensive back Micah Abernathy

After Hurd and since-departed Marlin Lane last year, no other Tennessee running back had more than 22 carries (Justus Pickett). So an injury to Hurd or Kamara could mean a position of strength becomes a weakness and forces the Vols to run quarterback Joshua Dobbs more, and that increases the chances of Dobbs getting hurt.