Jabari Small is looking bigger heading into the 2022 season at Tennessee, and that’s a good thing for the Volunteers’ offense.
The talented running back has reportedly added on about 15 pounds this offseason, and he explained why on Tuesday.
Per Small, he wants to be stronger in the second halves of games. He also wants to be the team’s short-yardage back, which requires more bulk and strength:
Tennessee running back Jabari Small on adding roughly 15 pounds this offseason: "Just trying to be available for my team. Finishing games. It's something I needed to address after last season."
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) August 16, 2022
Small on being the short yardage back: "I want it very bad. … I definitely want that role."
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) August 16, 2022
Small ran for 796 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2021. He received 141 carries in 2021, and he’s clearly looking to improve on that total in 2022.
Can Small stay strong throughout the long regular season? We’ll see how he fares when Tennessee kicks off its 2022 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 1, against Ball State.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
