It was worth the wait.
Tennessee fans had heard all about the additional mass that Jabari Small had put on his frame during the offseason in order to be more durable and more powerful. The latter was on display against Ball State on Thursday in the Vols’ season opening win against the Cardinals. The durability wasn’t tested because Small only had to play half of the game. However, there was another benefit from adding offseason bulk.
“Mainly, it was with my confidence,” Small said. “I was pretty confident running the ball, running through tackles and running through smoke. It felt good. I felt good getting my feet back under me (and) catching my wind. As the season goes on, we’ll meet different challenges. Hopefully, I’ll grow with the season.”
Small ran for 63 yards on 13 carries last week and is expected to be the Vols’ main ball carrier on Saturday as long as he’s healthy. That’s what the extra poundage was for.
Small will need every ounce of the weight he added in the offseason. The Vols will be facing one of the better defensive fronts on their schedule this season. That’s saying something considering UT plays in the SEC. Pitt, however, shouldn’t be discounted just because they’re not from the south.
“They’re a good team,” Small said. “They have a lot of returning players on defense. They play physical. We are very familiar with the defense, but they’re a different team and we are a different team. We have to play the game and roll with the punches.”
