Tennessee’s quarterback competition is getting plenty of oxygen at fall camp, and for good reason. Josh Heupel has a real decision to make between Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre. But the more important question for the Vols’ offense may be hiding a little deeper in the backfield.
That’s where DeSean Bishop comes in.
The junior running back has a case to be Tennessee’s most valuable offensive player this season. He already proved he can carry real weight last year, rushing for more than 1,000 yards while Joey Aguilar was slinging the ball around for the Vols.
If Brandon wins the job, Tennessee could be looking at the second time in three years that a freshman quarterback takes over Heupel’s offense. That setup makes Bishop’s role feel even bigger. It’s not a stretch to imagine him filling the kind of stabilizing role Dylan Sampson played for Nico Iamaleava two seasons ago.
Of course, Bishop and Sampson aren’t identical cases. Sampson was a different level of production altogether in 2024, when he ran for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns for Tennessee before moving on to the Browns. Iamaleava still posted 2,616 passing yards and 19 touchdowns that season, but Sampson was the engine that kept the offense humming.
Bishop has a chance to be that kind of force in 2026.
Last season, Tennessee leaned heavily on Aguilar in the biggest moments, and it made sense. He had the arm strength, the experience and the chemistry with his receivers to handle that load.
He was the safe bet. This year, though, the Vols won’t have that same comfort level at quarterback.
Brandon and MacIntyre both enter the season with very little college experience. Brandon arrived in Knoxville this winter to begin his career, and there’s no reason to expect either quarterback to step in and look like an established SEC star right away. Growing pains are part of the deal.
That’s where Bishop can take pressure off the whole operation. The former walk-on averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season and scored 16 touchdowns. He also had three games with more than 100 rushing yards, and the expectation is that he’ll top that total more often this fall.
For that to happen, Heupel will need to lean on him more consistently. The more Bishop handles, the less Tennessee has to ask of a young quarterback trying to settle in.
Heupel’s eventual QB1 decision will grab the headlines, no matter who wins the job. But Tennessee’s ceiling may hinge just as much on whether Bishop takes another step. He may not be a national name yet, but that could change fast.
In Other News...
Tennessee QB Battle Just Got More Complicated For Faizon Brandon
The quarterback competition in Knoxville has already become one of the biggest storylines of camp, with Ryan Staub, George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon all in the mix as Tennessee works toward a decision before the season opener against Furman. Brandon arrived with plenty of attention of his own, and even in a crowded room, the freshman has been a name worth watching because of the tools that made him such a coveted addition.
ESPNs early view of the SECs 2026 freshman class only added to that buzz, placing Brandon near the top of the conferences incoming talent. What keeps the intrigue high for Tennessee is how his arm talent fits Josh Heupels offense, and whether that upside can ultimately separate him from the other contenders as the Volunteers sort through the race. [Read more 🡒]
Vols Red Zone Reps Offer An Early QB Clue As Receiver Concern Grows
Tennessees fifth fall camp practice offered another early look at the quarterback competition, and the red-zone work was where the picture began to sharpen. Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre and Ryan Staub all got involved in passing drills, with Brandon and MacIntyre handling most of the first-team snaps as the Vols continued sorting out who is separating from the pack. With media allowed to watch the opening periods, the drill work was one of the more useful snapshots yet of how the offense is being organized near the goal line.
The other storyline was at receiver, where Radarious Jackson had a limited day and the margin for error felt even smaller. His reps were brief and the results were uneven, with drops and accuracy issues showing up while Tennessee monitored the position group through camp. The bigger question now is not just how the quarterbacks keep stacking these reps, but how quickly the Vols can get steadier production from a receiving room that already looks like it may need answers. [Read more 🡒]
James Pearce Jr's NFL Rise Just Hit A Serious Concern
James Pearce Jr.'s rookie year in Atlanta has already taken an unexpected turn, with the former Tennessee edge rusher now facing a potential absence that could alter the Falcons' defensive plans. Atlanta moved up in the 2025 first round to get him, banking on his talent to help a unit that is already dealing with injuries to other key players, and his rise from Knoxville to the NFL had been one of the more closely watched storylines surrounding the franchise.
Now the concern is not just on-field development, but availability. Pearce's situation traces back to a February arrest involving multiple felony charges after an alleged altercation, and the NFL's personal conduct policy looms over the case as Atlanta waits to see how long it may be without a player it invested heavily in less than a year ago. [Read more 🡒]