RB Room

[butchna]

Stephens redshirted after his freshman season

After his sophomore season.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

After his sophomore season.

That's right. Lewis, Henry and Stephens all came in the same year

 

[bpalmer28]

Honestly, I'm so very ready for a youth movement, fresh blood. These seniors, while I appreciate them, just need to move on.

Especially in the secondary. Love them but ready to see a completely different product

 

[TMvol10]

Honestly, I'm so very ready for a youth movement, fresh blood. These seniors, while I appreciate them, just need to move on.

I get what you’re saying, but if this is referring to Small AND Wright, I can’t agree. Idk something about a guy that averaged 7.4 yards a carry, with explosive top end speed, is hard to tackle and has great vision, has me thinking I’d like for him to come back.

 

[Vol423]

the "or transfer" part is odd though

That likely means he knows his role will be diminished at UT next year due to being surpassed on the depth chart.

 

[Vol423]

Tennessee once had Travis Stephens, Travis Henry, and Jamal Lewis on the same roster. For THREE YEARS. Not to mention they had Shawn Bryson for two of those.

How times have changed.

Those were the good days…before the transfer portal and NIL.

 

[sami]

I think if Wright gets a Day 2 or 3 grade he should go. I hate to say that, but it helps solidify that you can get drafted in Heupels offense. It isn't just a passing offense. AND that you can split carries and still get yours. So from an optics standpoint, it looks good. But Wright has been my favorite back since Montario Hardesty.

I don't hate to say it at all - it's time for Wright to move to the next level. He has nothing left to prove here, and as you said it reflects well on the program that a back can be a second day pick out of this offense.

 

[Volnuck]

If he does want to go to the NFL but he isn’t projected very high, he might transfer somewhere we he can be the featured back and get 15-20 carries every game. He averaged less than 9 carries per game this year and we will again be a three headed monster next year.

He is a very good back, but he is by far the slowest of the 3 we have. Good luck to him in his future endeavors.

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

Tennessee once had Travis Stephens, Travis Henry, and Jamal Lewis on the same roster. For THREE YEARS. Not to mention they had Shawn Bryson for two of those.

How times have changed.

And you didn’t have to worry about anybody taking a play off or tapping out. They went full tilt boogie and it was glorious to see

 

[joevol33]

I think we’re all proud of David Oakes.

Absolutely, it takes talent to juggle nerves!

 

[allstar34bd]

This might help keep Sampson happy!!View attachment 598697

I'm more interested in the 4th grader who stepped outside of his comfort zone. Congrats young man.

 

[SpookyAction]

Sampson is not the type of back to take the majority of carries.
His strengths are lateral elusiveness and speed.
His number of carries have to be strictly limited.

Small has proven to be durable and reliable, which none of the youngsters have yet.
I would rather he stay here and have another 7-800 yd season like 2021 and 2022.
You don't just kick out a back who would be within striking distance of our all-time leading rushing record and has a career avg of 5.1yds.

 

[ftsandersvol]

A huge problem in this world, people see something posted on Facebook by some random "insider" and immediately accept it as fact, just because they saw it on Facebook.

I heard Stoops is going to A&M.

 

[HuntlandVolinColo]

I'd love for Wright to return but he's got to get paid. RBs have a short shelf life in the nfl.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

I heard Stoops is going to A&M.

You heard it from Hyams?

 

[keenobserver]

I remember a few years ago, it seemed like Small was the only player the brand new coaching staff liked in the spring.

 

[Volfan1000]

We have a few running backs like Bishop and Lewis who want to EAT in 2024 along with Keith and Sampson and Seldon.

 

[Vol737]

I think Wright has to go to the NFL if he’s projected well in the draft. The concern then is if Small spends another year in college football and transfers out and then the rumblings wrt to Sampson prove to be true. Then we’ve lost our entire, proven backfield. Maybe it’s my BVS rearing its head.

 

[DrTNT]

Stewart, Hayden and Garner.

Lewis was out most of 98 and Stephens redshirted in 99.

Stewart, Hayden & Garner were here during the Johnny Majors run the ball, run the ball, run the ball days… had to have at least 3 backs for that offense

 

[American_PitVol]

What's going on with Sampson?

 

[RDU VOL#14]

What's going on with Sampson?

Nothing. He’s just playing the NIL game right now.

 

[shaundaman55]

We had an opportunity to get a special kid here in Ga, but they played around too much with him, so he is going to NC State. He is legit.

 

[ShoalCreekVol]

I think Jabari would kill it at a place like, for example, Tulane. They get NFL eyes on guys, and he could be more of a focal point for the offense to show off his stuff.

Regardless, I wish him the best and will always pull for him wherever he lands.

 

[Namorto1]

With Wright likely to enter the draft, if Small does go into transfer portal, we really should try and grab another RB from the portal ourselves. Otherwise, we only have 5 RB on scholarship with only Sampson who has any meaningful experience.

 

[midtnvol2]

'Was loaded' might be a better way to phrase the current situation. Wright likely goes to the NFL and Small may not come back for his final year, this is what the room will look like next year, probably in this pecking order:
Dylan Sampson
Cam Seldon
Khalifa Keith
Peyton Lewis
DeSean Bishop

I sure hope the the guys behind Sampson have some juice because they haven't been tested in live game situations, and he will have a rough time going through a full SEC season as the featured back.

I don't think Cam Seldon at 6'-2 and 220 lbs will have a problem in the SEC. Keith right behind him at 6'-1 220.