Vols #2 RB Opts Out

[Drinkin Buddy]

This broke late yesterday, and I didn't see anything about it on the board, so apologize if I am opening up a can of rehash.

Jabari Small, co- #RB, has opted out of the bowl game. Jabari started 24 games at UT, amassed 2,122 yards (#16 all-time at UT) and rushed for 475 yards this season. He joins Jaylen Wright, who rushed for 1,013 yards this season, as an opt out.

Expect the starter to be sophomore Dylan Samson, who rushed for 471 yards and had 175 yards receiving this season. He will likely split time with Freshman Cameron Seldon, who had 54 yards on 12 carries this season.

There's a whole lotta workload to be covered in that backfield to take the pressure off a true frosh starting QB facing off with Phil Parker's defense. Wonder how good of blockers these young bucks are with minimal field time

Good luck Vols!

 

[VFL1970]

This broke late yesterday, and I didn't see anything about it on the board, so apologize if I am opening up a can of rehash.

Jabari Small, co- #RB, has opted out of the bowl game. Jabari started 24 games at UT, amassed 2,122 yards (#16 all-time at UT) and rushed for 475 yards this season. He joins Jaylen Wright, who rushed for 1,013 yards this season, as an opt out.

Expect the starter to be sophomore Dylan Samson, who rushed for 471 yards and had 175 yards receiving this season. He will likely split time with Freshman Cameron Seldon, who had 54 yards on 12 carries this season.

There's a whole lotta workload to be covered in that backfield to take the pressure off a true frosh starting QB facing off with Phil Parker's defense. Wonder how good of blockers these young bucks are with minimal field time

Good luck Vols!

Sampson was the 2nd best RB. He is a good in protection. He has 7 TDs this season. He took over the UK game in the 4th quarter. Seldon hasnt played enough to know how he will do. He is a big back with a lot of speed. But that doesn’t mean he will be good.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

This game could get really ugly.

Tennessee at full strength couldn’t beat this Iowa team.

Their backups are really going to struggle.

 

[Drinkin Buddy]

Sampson was the 2nd best RB. He is a good in protection. He has 7 TDs this season. He took over the UK game in the 4th quarter. Seldon hasnt played enough to know how he will do. He is a big back with a lot of speed. But that doesn’t mean he will be good.

Yep. Seldon has 54 yards on 12 carries.

Rushing yards will be tough to come by, but the pass blocking is more critical for success.

Iowa implemented a 4-1-6 against Michigan and basically shut them down in neutral field position. Problem in that game was Iowa's special teams gaffe and turnovers. They twice gave Michigan the ball inside the Iowa 6 yard line.

Elsewise, they held #1 Michigan to 64 yards rushing (McCarthy had -33, Corum 52) and 147 passing.

 

[naturalbornhawk]

This game could get really ugly.

Tennessee at full strength couldn’t beat this Iowa team.

Their backups are really going to struggle.

That's the spirit.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

This game could get really ugly.

Tennessee at full strength couldn’t beat this Iowa team.

Their backups are really going to struggle.

Agreed. I think Iowa would have won this game straight up. Season starters vs. season starters. It might just be that a bunch of talented upstarts are more dangerous for Iowa than the starters that aren't playing though.

 

[Drinkin Buddy]

Agreed. I think Iowa would have won this game straight up. Season starters vs. season starters.

If you just look at the Power Ranking Index, Tennessee would be favored by 11.

If you look deep into the analytics, before Milton opted out, Iowa would be a 2.5 dog.

If you look even deeper, it should be anywhere from a pick 'em to Iowa favored by 1.

Vegas has this number wrong, but the line has been open for 3+ weeks at 8/8.5 and there was a huge adjustment this morning after Milton to hedge and jump in late. The 2 point swing downward tells you all you need to know, as well as a 60 point change in the Iowa Money Line from +260 to +200.

Smart money moved this morning..

I have Iowa winning by 9.

 

[Thunderlips71]

The under should be easy money, again

 

[spiderland]

I have Iowa winning by 9.

Phil’s boys pitch another shutout. I like it.

 

[coorsoriginal02]

This game could get really ugly.

Tennessee at full strength couldn’t beat this Iowa team.

Their backups are really going to struggle.

🫢

 

[ottumwan in tx]

Phil’s boys pitch another shutout. I like it.

a pick 6 and a 3 point kick, zero touchdowns. hawks win 9-0

 

[SolarHawk]

This game could get really ugly.

Tennessee at full strength couldn’t beat this Iowa team.

Their backups are really going to struggle.

You srs?

 

[texas twister]

Will Deacon have some turnovers? That is the tell all.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

Will Deacon have some turnovers? That is the tell all.

I'm not a fan of gambling but if this were the only wager on earth, and you said I gotta put ten bucks on it and if I'm right I get 100... I would say yes at least one and maybe two.

 

[Franisdaman]

This broke late yesterday, and I didn't see anything about it on the board, so apologize if I am opening up a can of rehash.

Jabari Small, co- #RB, has opted out of the bowl game. Jabari started 24 games at UT, amassed 2,122 yards (#16 all-time at UT) and rushed for 475 yards this season. He joins Jaylen Wright, who rushed for 1,013 yards this season, as an opt out.

Expect the starter to be sophomore Dylan Samson, who rushed for 471 yards and had 175 yards receiving this season. He will likely split time with Freshman Cameron Seldon, who had 54 yards on 12 carries this season.

There's a whole lotta workload to be covered in that backfield to take the pressure off a true frosh starting QB facing off with Phil Parker's defense. Wonder how good of blockers these young bucks are with minimal field time

Good luck Vols!

So, who's playing and who's not?

As of TODAY, Dec. 27, 2023, at 9:33 a.m. CT:

There are 13 Tennessee players who have opted out or transferred. There are 5 Tennessee players out due to injury.

There are 5 Iowa players who have transferred (not including Spencer Petras); no one had opted out. There are 4 Iowa players out due to injury.


The details:

Who is projected to not play in the Citrus Bowl for Tennessee:

Player	Position	Reason
Tyler Baron	DL	Transfer to Ole Miss
Addison Nichols	OL	Transfer to Arkansas
Jack Luttrell	DB	Transfer to Arizona
Tamarion McDonald	DB	Transfer to Ole Miss
Brandon Turnage	DB	Transfer
Warren Burrell	DB	Georgia Tech
Doneiko Slaughter	DB	Transfer to Arkansas
Mo Clipper Jr.	OL	Transfer
Connor Meadows	OL	Transfer
De'Shawn Rucker	DB	Transfer to USF
Jaylen Wright	RB	Opt-out to NFL
Jabari Small	RB	Opt-out
Javontez Spraggins	OL	Injury
Bru McCoy	WR	Injury
Kamal Hadden	DB	Injury
Keenan Pili	LB	Injury
Arion Carter	LB	Injury
Joe Milton	QB	Opt Out

Who is projected to not play in the Citrus Bowl for Iowa:

Player	Position	Reason
Spencer Petras	QB	Transfer to Utah State
Diante Vines	WR	Transfer
Anterio Thompson	DL	Transfer
Joe Labas	QB	Transfer
Jackson Flier	DL	Transfer
Brenden Deasfernandes	DB	Transfer
Cade McNamara	QB	Injury
Erick All	TE	Injury
Luke Lachey	TE	Injury
Cooper DeJean	DB	Injury

Sources:

VolReport - Tennessee and Iowa's transfers, opt-outs and injuries for the Citrus Bowl

Who has decided to enter the transfer portal, opt-out or is hurt for the Citrus Bowl between Tennessee and Iowa.

tennessee.rivals.com