Lions sign former 24-TD college football star ahead of training camp

The Detroit Lions have signed a former Tennessee football star.

According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Lions agreed to terms with running back Jabari Small on Friday.

"Source: The Lions are adding depth to their backfield, signing RB Jabari Small. The former Vols’ star was with the Titans last season as a rookie," Schultz wrote on X.

Small spent his rookie campaign in 2024 on the Tennessee Titans' practice squad. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Titans in January, Small was released by the team in May.

During his collegiate career at Tennessee, Small rushed for over 2,122 yards and 24 touchdowns over four seasons. His best seasons with the Volunteers came in 2021 and 2022, as he tallied 796 rushing yards in 2021 and 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022.

Now with the Lions, Small will look to shock the world and grab a roster spot. The 23-year-old has an uphill battle, as Jahymr Gibbs and David Montgomery are locked in as the top two running backs, while Craig Reynolds is a safe bet to be RB3.

If Detroit keeps four running backs, Small will have to beat out Sione Vaki for that spot.

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