Which RB getting into portal will Vols miss extra?

Way more stunning than dropping Jimmy Calloway and Jimmy Vacation to the switch portal, Tennessee soccer additionally misplaced two operating backs. One was the one participant who match the profile of a sort of operating again they want for subsequent yr, and the opposite was among the many most high-profile recruits within the Vols’ 2022 class.

Len’Neth Whitehead and Justin Williams-Thomas are each getting into the switch portal, in line with Matt Zenitz of On3. Shockingly, there was a transparent position for each of them on UT’s roster heading in the direction of the longer term, even when one in every of them must wait a bit longer.

Williams-Thomas was a four-star again throughout the board who signed with Tennessee soccer in 2022. He had 11 carries for 37 yards on the yr however was nonetheless a piece in progress for a lot of the season. At 6’0″ 210 kilos already, he had the potential to be the principle function again after Jabari Small left.

In the meantime, Whitehead is a clear-cut energy again. At 6’2″ 220 kilos, he had 32 carries for 207 yards, averaging over six yards a carry, and two touchdowns in 2021 as he emerged late. Nonetheless, he missed all of this yr resulting from damage, and Princeton Fant took over his position.

With Fant gone subsequent yr, it was assumed that Whitehead was going to reprise his position as the facility again on short-yardage performs. Taking all of this into consideration, each of those operating backs are larger losses than Calloway or Vacation are. Who’s an even bigger loss, although?

Properly, it depends upon what you’re taking a look at. If the query is only for subsequent yr, Whitehead is the larger loss. Fant’s departure as soon as once more leaves no returning energy backs with Whitehead within the portal. Now, the Vols do have an influence again in Khalifa Keith as a member of their 2022 recruiting class, however they don’t have any depth there.

However, for the longer term, Williams-Thomas is an even bigger loss. Once more, Tennessee soccer had an opportunity at a function again after Small. Certain, Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson are nonetheless there, however these are big-play all-purpose backs. One other again must be amongst them.

Sampson developed greater than Williams-Thomas this yr, as each had been true freshmen, and he’s obtained a shiny future with Rocky High, however extra assist is required after Small. With Williams-Thomas getting into the portal, Josh Heupel must search for one other function again.

Now, to be truthful, he doesn’t should do it this yr, but when he doesn’t, then he’ll most likely want an instantaneous switch subsequent yr. If Small will get damage in 2023, although, it’s nonetheless an issue, as there’s no true function again at that time to shoulder the load.

Taking that into consideration, Williams-Thomas might be an even bigger loss general, as Tennessee soccer may have probably used him for subsequent yr and would have wanted him years after that. Whitehead is required for subsequent yr, however with Keith coming in, they have already got an influence again for the longer term and will add one other one.