ESPN’s first big look at the 2026 college football season includes a familiar name for Tennessee fans: DeSean Bishop.
The Vols’ returning running back landed at No. 70 on ESPN’s list of the top 100 players in the sport for the upcoming season, a nod that comes on the heels of a breakout 2025 campaign. Bishop piled up 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries last season, and he now enters 2026 as Tennessee’s clear lead back.
Mark Schlabach highlighted Bishop’s path from walk-on to centerpiece in his writeup. “The Volunteers didn’t have to go far to find Bishop, who starred at Karns High School in Knoxville,” ESPN’s Mark Schlabach wrote.
“They gave him a chance to walk-on, which was his only offer from an FBS team. He’s on scholarship now after he ran for 1,076 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2025.
Over the past two seasons, 947 of Bishop’s 1,531 rushing yards came after contact and he forced 47 missed tackles. With a new quarterback starting under center, the Vols might ask even more from Bishop in 2026.”
Bishop was Tennessee’s lone player on the list.
The rest of ESPN’s rankings were spread across the college football landscape, with several notable names appearing near the top. Texas placed three players in the top 15: edge rusher Colin Simmons at No. 3, offensive tackle Trevor Goosby at No. 12, and quarterback Arch Manning at No.
- The Longhorns also had receiver Cam Coleman at No. 15, linebacker Rasheem Biles at No. 44, running back Hollywood Smothers at No. 47, and running back Raleek Brown at No.
Auburn’s Xavier Atkins came in at No. 28, while quarterback Byrum Brown checked in at No. 88.
Alabama was represented by defensive back Bray Hubbard at No. 36, linebacker Yhonzae Pierre at No. 96, and receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams at No. 99.
Elsewhere, South Carolina edge Dylan Stewart landed at No. 14, Texas A&M receiver Mario Craver was No. 86, and LSU had a cluster of players on the list: offensive lineman Jordan Seaton at No. 34, quarterback Sam Leavitt at No. 37, safety Ty Benefield at No. 38, linebacker Whit Weeks at No. 41, tight end Trey’Dez Green at No. 49, and edge Princewill Umanmielen at No. 80.
Among the other ranked players listed were Georgia Tech running back Justice Haynes at No. 92.
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Phillip Fulmers recent reminder about the importance of defense frames the challenge ahead for Tennessee just as much as the quarterback decision does. Brandons talent got him the job, but the opener will be about how much support he gets around him as a first-time starter, and whether the Vols can keep the pressure off him long enough for his debut to feel manageable. [Read more 🡒]