Jabari Small Opts Out of the bowl game

[just bob]

According to the KnoxNews article embedded above, Small hasn’t been participating in Bowl practices:

“Small did not participate in bowl practices, and he is not traveling with the team here on Wednesday. He has not announced his plans for 2024.”

So apparently, CJH has known Small (and Wright) won’t be playing in the Bowl for some time and has game planned accordingly.

It is peculiar.

 

[VAVol85]

Small runs really hard and takes a lot of abuse. He has had several injuries in his college career.

If he has a chance to get on with an NFL team in the late rounds or as an UDFA, he should take it rather than pursue another year of college ball IMO.

Good luck to him he has definitely given his all.

 

[pimo1]

Milton/Nico have to be part of the run game.

Not sure how this is a good move for Small.

Interesting thing I noticed looking at Iowas opponents this year...They faced 1 semi-mobile QB this whole year. Nebraska Backup Chubba Purdy (Brocks little brother)

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

Small runs really hard and takes a lot of abuse. He has had several injuries in his college career.

If he has a chance to get on with an NFL team in the late rounds or as an UDFA, he should take it rather than pursue another year of college ball IMO.

Good luck to him he has definitely given his all.

Disagree. Small is talented, but his problem is he does not run hard. He goes down at the first sign of contact.

Wright runs hard. John Kelly ran hard. Those are the type of backs that take contact and keep going.

 

[VAVol85]

Disagree. Small is talented, but his problem is he does not run hard. He goes down at the first sign of contact.

Wright runs hard. John Kelly ran hard. Those are the type of backs that take contact and keep going.

I think RBs that get yards after contact are more likely to do so because they are shifty and defenders don’t get straight shots at them. IMO, Small tends to run in straight lines and gets blown up.

 

[DeadByDaylightFan]

Not getting drafted

 

[just bob]

Small runs really hard and takes a lot of abuse. He has had several injuries in his college career.

If he has a chance to get on with an NFL team in the late rounds or as an UDFA, he should take it rather than pursue another year of college ball IMO.

Good luck to him he has definitely given his all.

I always liked him and I wish him the best.

 

[twigsxx2]

Sampson is more than ready to step up into the featured back.

 

[beachvol23]

The backfield rotation has shrunk heading into the Citrus Bowl.

Expect Sampson to start in the bowl, and he's the frontrunner to take that role next season. Sampson has 471 yards rushing, 175 yards receiving and eight TDs this season.

Freshman Cameron Seldon should step into the rotation. He has 51 yards on 12 carries this season. Freshman Khalifa Keith, who has seven carries for 14 yards, will be the third option.

Rushing yards could be tough to come by. Iowa touts the No. 4 scoring defense in the nation, allowing 13.2 points per game. And it's allowed only four rushing TDs this season, the second-fewest in FBS.

News Sentinel

Have they faced anybody that can run like Sampson though?

 

[sjt18]

Sampson is more than ready to step up into the featured back.

Yeah. I think the concern is depth.

 

[dalton_vol]

goodness. the bowl game is a joke.

 

[JCHateSteve]

The Citrus is gonna be the Sampson coming out party. He's the back they should have been the most worried about anyway IMO.

 

[VolMarine1371]

It’s behind a paywall but all the same…the headline says all we really need to know…

View attachment 605137

No real shocker IMO

So I would expect Small not to return next year as well.

 

[dalton_vol]

Thw Citrus is gonna be the Sampson coming out party. He's the back they should have be the most worried about anyway IMO.

yeah, he needs to get about 20+ touches. they'll need him to catch a lot of balls too.

 

[Zues1]

Both of the freshmen look very good.
Let's go!

 

[Volfan1000]

Sampson will be glad to get the ball and is a much better runner. Best of luck to Small.

More carries for Sampson and Seldon and Keith.

Best of luck to Jabari Small in the upcoming draft.

 

[just bob]

So I would expect Small not to return next year as well.

That's what I'm assuming.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

It’s behind a paywall but all the same…the headline says all we really need to know…

View attachment 605137

No real shocker IMO

Not a problem. In fact, third opens the door for our young talented RBs to show their stuff. This is huge for the development of our offense for 2024. It is imperative now that Nico get a lot of snaps in the Citrus Bowl.

 

[tennesseeduke]

It’s behind a paywall but all the same…the headline says all we really need to know…

View attachment 605137

No real shocker IMO

who?

 

[CAVPUT]

Sampson and Seldon show. Tough defense to have your first start against, but if Sampson is the man, he will get it done. If not.....

 

[CAVPUT]

Hope Sampson and the two freshmen are ready to step it up…need at least 200 yards rushing for our offense to be effective

Uh...not against that defense.

 

[lilesrt]

The backfield rotation has shrunk heading into the Citrus Bowl.

Expect Sampson to start in the bowl, and he's the frontrunner to take that role next season. Sampson has 471 yards rushing, 175 yards receiving and eight TDs this season.

Freshman Cameron Seldon should step into the rotation. He has 51 yards on 12 carries this season. Freshman Khalifa Keith, who has seven carries for 14 yards, will be the third option.

Rushing yards could be tough to come by. Iowa touts the No. 4 scoring defense in the nation, allowing 13.2 points per game. And it's allowed only four rushing TDs this season, the second-fewest in FBS.

News Sentinel

It’s time for the young bucks to step up. That’s why they signed. Go produce!

 

[just bob]

Uh...not against that defense.

Defenses that have stopped our run, which Iowa is certainly capable, have stopped the pass with Milton. Iowa has a really good defense and we scored 7 and 10 on Missouri and Georgia. This years offense can certainly by stopped, especially without our productive players.

 

[farmdogvol]

Running will be fine will show up in pass blocking

 

[CAVPUT]

Running will be fine will show up in pass blocking

Iowa is physical and very sound fundamentally. Is Sampson an every down back? Can he be physical enough? Is Seldon ready? Not sure of the answer to any of those questions. Guess we find out soon enough, but something tells me they were backups for a reason. Just sayin'.