Why Briarcrest three-star RB Jabari Small flipped from Ole Miss to Tennessee Vols football

Briarcrest running back Jabari Small said he didn't feel comfortable with the coaching changes Ole Miss made when it fired Matt Luke following the Rebels season-ending loss in the Egg Bowl. Small decommitted from Ole Miss on Dec. 2, the day after Luke was fired. 

"It was just because of the coaching changes. I had a relationship with all those coaches and I didn’t feel comfortable there," Small said. 

Around the same time, the Tennessee Vols ramped up their recruiting efforts, ultimately landing a commitment from the three-star all-purpose back. Small picked the Vols over Ole Miss and Texas A&M

"They came out to my house and personally recruited me and my family. So I kind of made my mind up Sunday with Coach (Jeremy) Pruitt," Small said. 

The decision comes the day after teammate Omari Thomas announced his commitment to Tennessee.  Small said that although he and Thomas are friends, Thomas' announcement didn't have much of an impact on his decision to attend Tennessee. 

"It wasn’t as much of a big deal. It just so happens that we go to the same school. I was happy for him though," Small said. 

Small said that he's taken seven unofficial visits to Knoxville since his sophomore year and that he kept in contact with the Tennessee coaching staff throughout his recruitment. He said his official visit to Knoxville is scheduled for this weekend. 

The Vols have four scholarship running backs returning, including former Lausanne star Eric Gray. The Vols have a commitment from one other running back, Maryville's Tee Hodge.

Small is the No. 11 all-purpose back in the nation and the No. 20 overall prospect in the state for the Class of 2020 according to the 247Sports Composite. 

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound senior scored 26 rushing touchdowns this season, including four in the Saints' quarterfinal loss to Ensworth. He was a finalist for the DII-AAA Mr. Football award, which Thomas won. 

Small is the son of former Ole Miss receiver Eddie Small, who held the school record for receiving yards in a game with 210 until AJ Brown broke it in 2017.