The Tennessee Vols could have an under-the-radar roster issue heading into the 2024 season. 

Earlier this week, VolQuest reported that sophomore running back Cam Seldon will miss the rest of spring practice due to a shoulder injury that will require surgery. 

Seldon is expected to be good to go this fall, but his injury highlights the fact that Tennessee doesn't have a lot of proven depth at the running back position. 

Junior Dylan Sampson will carry the load for the Vols in 2024 with Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small moving on to the NFL. Seldon, if healthy, is expected to be the No. 2 running back behind Sampson with sophomore running back Khalifa Keith serving as the No. 3 running back. 

True freshman Peyton Lewis, a four-star recruit from Virginia, would likely be the next man up if any of Tennessee's top three running backs are forced to miss time during the season. 

Even without the Seldon injury, there's a severe lack of experience in Tennessee's running back room. 

Tennessee entered the 2023 season with a wealth of experience at the running back position. Wright, Small, and Sampson were the Vols' top three running backs last season. And those three running backs came into the 2023 season after combining for 361 carries in 2022. 

The Vols' top three running backs in 2024 (Sampson, Seldon, and Keith) combined for just 142 carries last season (106 of those carries were from Sampson). 

That's obviously far less experience that Tennessee will have at running back in 2024. And if we've learned anything about Josh Heupel's offense over his first three years at UT, it's that experience matters. It can take a bit before players truly find their groove in Heupel's unique up-tempo offense. 

We also know that Heupel places a huge importance on pass protection, which is one reason why Sampson, despite being an electric player with the ball in his hands, didn't see as much action over the last two years as some fans think he should've. 

Not only do Tennessee's younger running backs lack experience when it comes to carrying the ball in Heupel's offense, but they also lack valuable experience in pass protection. 

Now, one way to alleviate the lack of experience is to give Sampson the bulk of the carries. But that isn't a foolproof plan. Because of Tennessee's tempo, it's tough to ride one running back for an entire game. And because of the Vols' prolific rushing attack, there's more than enough carries to go around (Sampson rushed for over 600 yards last season despite playing behind Wright, who rushed for 1,013 yards). 

Relying solely on Sampson doesn't seem like an approach that Tennessee wants to take. It goes against everything we've seen from this Vols offense over the last three seasons. 

So what's the answer? 

Even if the Vols feel great that Seldon will be fully healthy this fall, they should still probably look around in the transfer portal for a running back. That doesn't mean they should take just anyone. But if they can find a running back who excels in pass protection, but isn't necessarily a "burner" or a guy who looks like future NFL starter (someone like Jabari Small, essentially), then they should consider bringing that running back to Knoxville. 

There might not be a running back that enters the portal that fits that description. And if that's the case, then the Vols will just have to hope for the best this fall when it comes to their running backs (good health and positive progress from the young guys). 

I don't think this is a make-or-break issue for Tennessee. It might not even be an issue at all. But considering how reliant the Vols are on the running game, it's an issue that, at the very least, is a bit concerning as Tennessee prepares for year four of the Heupel era. 

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