Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | 6 | Season-high 12 yds |
| Total | 4 | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | 6 |
#24
Hunter Barnes
Senior running back for Tennessee. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 200 lb · Memphis, TN · Memphis School
Returning to Tennessee for 2026
The numbers
12
rushing yards · 2026
3 per carry
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 12 rush yds, vs Furman
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 running back for Tennessee. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
The full story, with sourcesBuzz vs Tape
Every angle we can check here reads about where you'd expect this season.
25.1own fans
32.5national conversation
Hunter Barnes
Fifth year in the Tennessee backfield, same address the whole way. The receipt on tape: 12 rush yds against Furman, Week 1, 2026.
12 RUSH YDS · 0 RUSH TD · 4 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
1 coach2022–2026
Tennessee
Played his entire career under Josh Heupel.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
5 seasons under Josh Heupel — 40-14 over that span.
2022Tennessee11-2HC: Josh Heupel · Run-leaning
2023Tennessee9-4HC: Josh Heupel · Run-leaning
2024Tennessee10-3HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee2-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Concern: rush yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 12.0 YDS/g, 3.0 YPC, 0.0 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–9
vs Furman
12 rush yds (4 car)
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · M. Matthews — 4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Tennessee
Returning around him
- 35% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 5 Tennessee players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (21 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tennessee · Last season: 8-5 (AP #18) · Talent rank #13 · 2026 recruiting class #8
Background
CAREER HONORS 2025 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll 2024 Fall SEC Adademic Honor Roll 2023 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll CAREER In-state running back from West Tennessee entering his fifth year with the program … Played in eight career games … Owns 12 career carries for 57 yards and one tackle on spec...
The backfield · Tennessee
- #18DeSean Bishop1,076 rushing yards · 2025
- #6Javin Gordon516 rushing yards · 2025
- #17Daune Morris133 rushing yards · 2025
- #2Justin Baker43 rushing yards · 2025
- #24Hunter Barnes2 rushing yards · 2025
1 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology