Tennessee is sending a pretty clear message with its SEC Media Days delegation this week in Tampa: the Vols are leaning on defense, and they’re leaning on a running back who’s expected to matter a lot.
The event begins Monday, one of the first real markers that college football season is creeping into view. Tennessee will be represented by head coach Josh Heupel, running back DeSean Bishop and linebackers Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander.
Bishop’s presence fits the moment. He’s a rising redshirt junior and figures to be one of the biggest pieces of Tennessee’s offense. With no veteran quarterback in place, the Vols are putting one of their most important skill players front and center.
Carter is another obvious choice. He’s set to be a major part of the middle of Tennessee’s defense this fall, and his role should be central to how the Vols operate on that side of the ball.
Telander stands out a little more. His selection raises the question of whether Tennessee sees him as a significant part of a linebacker group that has plenty of talent. He also appeared in the school’s Adidas release video with Peyton Manning, which adds to the sense that he has had a visible public role heading into the 2026 season.
Heupel and all three players will speak in Tampa this week, and the usual Media Days script will follow. Still, there’s always a chance something slips out that gives a little more shape to what Tennessee is building for 2026.
In Other News...
DeSean Bishop Just Weighed In On Tennessees Future Backfield
DeSean Bishops place in Tennessees backfield is already secure in the present, but the conversation around the future is getting interesting. The All-SEC running back said he would be open to sharing carries with a highly ranked 2027 recruit, a reminder that the Volunteers are trying to keep their roster balanced between immediate production and the long view. Bishop also made clear that his own focus is on the current season, even as NFL aspirations remain part of the bigger picture.
For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: adding another elite back would only deepen a position group that already has a proven centerpiece. But the path to making that happen is still unresolved, with the recruit weighing his options and Bishops own long-term timeline far from settled. If both sides end up aligning, the Volunteers could be looking at a backfield that is built to last, but for now it remains one of those recruiting and roster questions that hangs in the background. [Read more 🡒]
SEC Power Shift Talk Should Have Mississippi State Fans On Edge
The SECs long-running frustration with the college sports setup is no longer just a background grumble. Commissioner Greg Sankey said the leagues leaders are openly discussing the possibility of breaking away from the NCAA structure, a sign of how much pressure has built around Congressional legislation, NIL transparency and the College Football Playoff format.
Sankey also made clear that a clean split is not the first choice, even with the SECs recent run of success across sports and its standing as the sports most powerful league. For schools like Tennessee, the bigger issue is what happens if the national system keeps stalling, because the more the SEC feels boxed in, the louder the power-shift conversation is likely to get. [Read more 🡒]