JS #26

Jabari Small

Running Back · Tennessee

A four-year Tennessee workhorse back from a family of SEC receivers, still fighting for a foothold after stints with two NFL teams.

Jabari Small ran for over 2,100 yards across four seasons at Tennessee before beginning a well-traveled pro career that has taken him from the Tennessee Titans to the Detroit Lions and back through several practice squads. He comes from football bloodlines, with his father and two uncles all having played receiver in the SEC.

★ 2,122 career rushing yards and 26 touchdowns at Tennessee (2020-2023)

★ 734 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022 despite missing time to injury

★ Signed reserve/futures contract with Detroit for 2026

Path to the league

Small played four seasons for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2020 to 2023, rushing 419 times for 2,122 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 32 receptions for 247 yards and two more scores. His best statistical season came in 2022, when he ran for 734 yards and 13 touchdowns despite an in-season arm injury. He went undrafted in 2024 and signed with the Tennessee Titans.

Career highlights

Small's college production, including a 792-yard, nine-touchdown 2021 season, made him a reliable between-the-tackles runner who also caught passes out of the backfield. He was teammates at Tennessee with quarterback Hendon Hooker, a connection that continued into their pro careers. His father Eddie played receiver at Ole Miss, and uncles Tony and O.J. Small played receiver at Georgia and Florida, respectively.

2025 season recap

After the Titans waived him in May 2025, Small signed with the Detroit Lions on July 18, 2025, ahead of training camp. He was waived on August 10 but re-signed to Detroit's practice squad on December 1, and he signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 5, 2026, keeping him in the Lions' running back mix without seeing regular-season game action.