Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop put together the kind of season that usually earns a spot on preseason award lists. The senior running back ran for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries in 2025, yet when the Doak Walker Award unveiled its 60-player preseason watch list on Tuesday, his name was nowhere to be found.
That omission stands out even more when you zoom out. Thirty nine college running backs topped 1,000 rushing yards last season, and Bishop was one of them. Only 21 of those backs are back in college football for the 2026 season.
Bishop did most of his damage on the ground, but he added a little in the passing game too, catching 15 passes for 135 yards over the full season. He also had three games with more than 100 rushing yards, getting there against Arkansas, Alabama and Florida.
The finish was strong as well. In Tennessee’s final three games last year, the Knoxville native averaged 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns per game.
At 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, Bishop is expected to be Tennessee’s lead back again this season. Daune Morris returns after a promising freshman year, and the Vols also brought in Tulane transfer Javin Gordon, a versatile addition to the backfield. Morris and Gordon are competing for the No. 2 job, and both are expected to see carries, but Bishop should still be the clear leader in rushing attempts if he stays healthy.
His path to this point has been unusual, and it’s part of what makes his rise stand out. A standout at nearby Karns High School, Bishop didn’t receive any Power Five offers out of high school.
He was committed to Coastal Carolina before backing off that pledge after Jamie Chadwell left for Liberty. From there, he signed with Tennessee as a preferred walk-on, missed his freshman season because of injury, earned a scholarship, became the backup in 2024 and then took over as the Vols’ starter in 2025.
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