Running Back
RB1: Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan
RB2: Eric Gray, Carlin Fils-aime/Jeremy Banks
The running back room at Tennessee took an interesting turn late into fall camp with the developments from Thursday’s practice on August 22nd.
Sophomore running back Jeremy Banks practiced some at linebacker during the season last year after having some fumbling issues, but he moved back to running back after only a few weeks at LB and was back at running back all through the spring and all through fall camp. But on Thursday, he moved to linebacker, and it looks like that could be a permanent switch for him this time.
That move means that Tennessee doesn’t have a large, bruising back in their stable of running backs in 2019. But it also likely means that true freshman Eric Gray has proven to be the real deal.
Gray has showed a ton of potential this fall as a playmaker both in the run game and the pass game, and it clearly looks like he’s played his way into the third spot behind Ty Chandler and Tim Jordan. Gray possesses skills that neither Chandler nor Jordan have, and he could be a useful change-of-pace back and even someone who could steal touches away from the two juniors.
Chandler and Jordan will likely be co-starters for most of the season, but Gray will have plenty to say about that. Banks could still be utilized in goal line packages, but if any injuries occur in this group, Banks could move back to RB once again. Carlin Fils-aime has missed almost all of this fall, and his role is likely to be fairly minimal unless he’s fully healthy.
