DeSean Bishop isn’t promising anything about Tennessee’s 2027 backfield, but he’s made one thing clear: he wouldn’t mind sharing it with David Gabriel Georges.
At SEC Media Days on July 20 in Tampa, the Tennessee running back said the idea of lining up alongside the five-star recruit would be welcome, though he stopped short of calling it a certainty.
“If it's God's will, let it be,” Bishop said at SEC Media Days on July 20. "But I'm going to leave that up to him."
Bishop didn’t name the player directly, but the target was obvious. Gabriel Georges, the Baylor School star from Chattanooga, is one of the biggest prizes in the 2027 class. The 247Sports Composite ranks him No. 10 overall, No. 2 among running backs and the top prospect in Tennessee.
His commitment is set for July 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET, with Tennessee and Ohio State as the finalists.
Bishop’s own path is part of what makes his view on recruiting so interesting. The former Karns standout started at Tennessee as a walk-on and climbed all the way to All-SEC status. He said that journey shaped how he sees competition and how he wants the program to keep building.
"I feel like I was a little bit under-recruited, but that was part of God's plan," said Bishop, who began his career as a UT walk-on. "I worked for this and earned it. I hope whoever comes after me does the same thing, whoever they choose to recruit here."
That attitude has been consistent. Bishop has never sounded threatened by the idea of Tennessee bringing in elite backs. He’s embraced it, even while knowing it could make his own job harder.
"(Competition) makes you better. You don't want it the easy way.
Everything in life is earned. Nothing in life is given," Bishop said.
"I believe if you're running away from competition, you're just selling yourself short. I want to compete against the best, and Tennessee puts the best guys into the building."
Of course, there are two major hurdles before that vision can become real. Gabriel Georges first has to pick Tennessee over Ohio State. And Bishop has to still be in Knoxville in 2027.
That second part isn’t a given. Bishop is coming off an All-SEC season in 2025, when he ran for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. He could be in position to enter the 2027 NFL Draft if he puts together another strong year.
“Obviously, I have aspirations to play in the (NFL). That's the ultimate goal for me in my career,” Bishop said.
"But I honestly just want to focus on what we have now. We have a season to prepare for, and ultimately the team comes first.
I'm going to do my best to help our team."
For 2026, Bishop returns as one of the SEC’s top backs. Tennessee also has Tulane transfer Javin Gordon, sophomore Daune Morris and sophomore Justin Baker in the mix for carries.
Whether that group is still intact in 2027 is another question entirely. The transfer portal and the draft can change a roster fast. But if Tennessee lands Gabriel Georges, the Vols would have a serious shot at pairing a premier young recruit with one of the league’s most proven backs.
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