DeSean Bishop doesn’t sound worried about Tennessee’s future in the backfield. If anything, he sounds excited by it.
The Volunteers’ leading rusher said he can already see what it would look like if he and five-star running back commit David Gabriel-Georges were sharing carries in 2027. When Chris Low asked about the idea, Bishop gave a blunt answer that left little room for interpretation.
“Yes, it would be disgusting, the two of us together. I ain’t going to lie.
He’s what people say he is. I’ll tell you that, a man amongst boys.”
Bishop’s comments came as Tennessee continues to build around one of the most highly touted running back recruits in the country. Gabriel-Georges, a five-star plus prospect, is set to arrive with plenty of hype after choosing the Vols over Ohio State and Ole Miss. The Baylor School standout put together a junior season that included 1,749 rushing yards and helped Baylor win a state championship.
At roughly 220 pounds, Gabriel-Georges brings a physical style, but he also has the burst to turn a crease into a big play. That combination is part of what made him such a prized commit for Tennessee.
Bishop, meanwhile, is still in the middle of a big year of his own. Through nine games, he has 1,066 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns as he works through a second straight 1,000-yard season. Last week against Kentucky, he ran for 109 yards and two scores, pushing him into a rare spot in Tennessee history.
With that performance, Bishop joined Johnnie Jones as the only Tennessee running backs to post 1,000-yard seasons in consecutive years.
His late-game production has been just as important. Entering the Texas A&M game, Bishop led the country with 369 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Against Kentucky alone, he added 67 fourth-quarter yards, giving Tennessee a reliable answer when the game tightens and the defense knows exactly what’s coming.
Bishop’s path to this point makes the possibility of another season in Knoxville even more interesting. He came to Tennessee from nearby Karns High School as a walk-on without a scholarship. He redshirted in 2023, sat out his first season, backed up Dylan Sampson in 2024, and then rushed for 1,076 yards in 2025.
He now has one season of eligibility left, which would allow him to return in 2027, the same year Gabriel-Georges is slated to begin his college career.
If that happens, Tennessee could have a backfield that blends experience and raw talent. Bishop would bring the kind of trust a coach leans on in the biggest moments, whether that means picking up a blitz on third down or finishing off a close game. Gabriel-Georges would give the Vols a chance to ease in a freshman who already arrives with the tools to make an impact.
For Tennessee, the idea is simple: keep both backs fresh, keep the pressure on defenses, and make the most of a pairing Bishop already believes would be special.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Got A Mike Matthews Scare It Couldnt Afford
Tennessees offense took another hit Saturday when leading receiver Mike Matthews went down with a lower-body injury in the second quarter against Texas A&M and left the game on crutches. The sight alone was enough to raise alarms for a Volunteers team that has already spent much of the season navigating injuries and trying to keep its attack on schedule.
Matthews has been one of the most important pieces in Tennessees passing game, so any absence would carry real weight for an offense that needs him to stay on the field. For now, the only certainty is that the Vols are waiting on word about the extent of the injury, and that uncertainty hangs over a stretch where every healthy playmaker matters. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has A New CFP Ranking Fight Fans Wont Like
The latest College Football Playoff rankings gave Tennessee another reason to grumble, even after the Vols beat Alabama on the field. Alabama landed at No. 3 while Tennessee checked in at No. 8, a gap that immediately raised eyebrows because the head-to-head result would seem to favor the Vols in any fair comparison.
Committee chairman Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger strength of schedule as the explanation, but not everyone bought it. Former quarterback Chase Daniel said he was confused by the decision and disagreed with the committees logic, while both teams still have quality wins and losses that could keep reshaping the picture as the season plays out. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Surprising Team To Root For Saturday
Saturday gives Tennessee a second scoreboard to watch, and it comes from an unlikely place. While the Vols handle Texas A&M earlier in the day, No. 21 LSU will be hosting No. 6 Texas in a matchup that could ripple through the SEC title race and the College Football Playoff picture, with Tennessee's path shaped as much by what happens in Baton Rouge as by its own result.
An LSU win would do more than just add another ranked victory to the conference ledger. It would strengthen the Tigers' standing as an opponent and help clear some of the clutter in the SEC standings, which is exactly the kind of help Tennessee could use as it tries to keep its own playoff hopes and conference math in order. [Read more 🡒]