Vol Club Confidential: Jaylen Wright

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright will take the field on Saturday at the place that saw his greatest failure. Ruled short of the goal line in overtime against Purdue in the Music City Bowl has never left Wright and has driven him like nothing before in his Vol career. He sat down with Vol Club Confidential to discuss his growth.

“I’ll never forget that,” Wright said. “I mean I did score (laughs). I feel like if I was a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger I think I’d have gotten in there where I didn’t have to stretch the ball where it could have been an automatic decision to call it a touchdown.”

Wright signed with the previous coaching staff but quickly figured out that running backs coach. Jerry Mack would be great for his development.

“It was a lot of confusion because I didn’t know what to expect,” Wright said. “I had already built a relationship with the last coaching staff, with coach Graham. He’s a great person and he made me fall in love with the state of Tennessee. The new coaching staff came and I trusted in the process and here we are now.

“Coach Mack is a very smart coach and he knows football. He is a very welcoming off the field as well. He knows what it takes to get to the next level. He cares about you and we talk about things off the field. It’s a mix of everything.”

After leading Tennessee and rushing last season, Wright has lofty goals for this year. His friendship with former Tennessee and current New York Giant wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who was slow Wright’s roommate last season, has proved to be invaluable.

“I just watched him,” Wright said. “I just watched the whole process in how he took care of his business, not just on the field but off the field as well. He is a great person and just watching him and his success, I know what it takes to get to the next level.

“He took care of his business off the field. I think being detailed off the field leads up to you doing well and big games. I think being on time for everything and being intentional with all his reps he gets. Just always smiling when he comes in the building.”

Wright admittedly has a different mindset than he did just two years ago. He is more personable, more vocal and works hard to keep a smile on his face.

“Just knowing I can be the guy,” Wright said. “Just knowing I have a lot of talent. A lot of talent that the world hasn’t seen and I’m ready for that to be seen. I just feel like coming in happy and smiling, I’ve been feeling better. Coach Mack always says what you give in is what you get out of people. If you come in frowning and not talking then they won’t want to talk to you.”

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