DeSean Bishop arrived at Tennessee as a preferred walk on with few external expectations after a stellar prep career at Karns High School in Knoxville.
But entering his second year in the Tennessee program, Bishop is staring down having a real role in the Vols’ offense. He’s done it with an old fashioned play style.
“In terms of what I look at with him, I see him as an old school throwback player,” Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims said earlier this week. “To where it’s like that guy that you can just keep hitting and hitting and hitting and he just keeps getting stronger and stronger as the game goes along.”
Bishop has been a scrimmage standout for Tennessee football during his first two seasons on campus. After both of the Vols’ scrimmages during fall camp, Heupel has called him one of Tennessee’s standouts.
An injury ended his 2023 season before it started but he has remained healthy to this point in the preseason and there’s an abundance of opportunities for him at running back entering the season.
“I think he’s got great command, comfort in what we’re doing,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said on Thursday. “He continues to get better in playing without the ball— his pass protection, we’re really confident in him in that. So he’s just continuing to take steps every day to continue to get better.”
Tennessee lost two heads of his three-headed monster in its backfield last season with Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small off to professional football. Dylan Sampson is back and is the unquestioned leader in that room but behind him Tennessee’s running back rotation is uncertain.
Cameron Seldon is still not at 100% after undergoing shoulder surgery back in the spring which has presented even more opportunities. Freshman Peyton Lewis is one of the candidates to step up into that role and he’s been impressive, but Bishop has been a solid and consistent contributor for Tennessee every day which is why he’s in a position to play this fall.
It’s not just Bishop’s playing style that makes him and old fashioned football player either.
“He’s kind of a throwback football player from a mentality standpoint,” Sims said. “Like he doesn’t get flustered. He does a really good job. He has his routine in terms of his body maintenance. He does a really good job when he comes out here and attack. He’s very, very hard on himself. So if he makes a mistake he’s frustrated with himself, but it doesn’t affect him on the next play.”
Even before the first game of his redshirt freshman season, Bishop’s college journey is an impressive on. He was a high school phenomenon at a small school who didn’t receive big time interest. He originally committed to Coastal Carolina before de-committing and signing with Tennessee after Jamey Chadwell left for Liberty.
His hard work, consistent improvement and throwback style give him a chance to earn a real role this season.
