Confident, healthy DeSean Bishop attacking opportunities ahead with Vols
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop doesn’t lack confidence and that’s not a bad thing when the priorities are aligned and centered. With the season a little over two weeks away, that’s exactly where the redshirt-freshman finds himself as playing time awaits.
The local product produced one of the best prep careers in Tennessee high school history. Starring at nearby Karns High school, Bishop accumulated 8,347 rushing yards with a combined 102 rushing touchdowns in four years. He was a back-to-back Tennessee Titans 5-A Mr. Football Award winner as a junior and senior and boasted an All-State high school career.
“I see him as an old-school throwback player,” running backs coach Da’Rail Sims said on Wednesday. “It’s like that guy that you can just keep hitting and hitting and hitting and he just keeps getting stronger and stronger as the game goes on.
“When he gets in there, he does a really good job of running behind his pads. He’s quick in between the tackles. He’s got really good short-area quickness. His acceleration is good. He has good hands out of the backfield. He knows the things that he needs to fine tune and work on.”
Bishop was a stud in high school, but was pegged as only a three-star prospect at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds. He committed and was ready to enroll at Coastal Carolina, but a coaching change threw a wrench into those plans. Tennessee, who hung around in his recruitment throughout, ended up being the choice as the running back walked on prior to the 2023 season.
Karns’ DeSean Bishop (8) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during a football game between Carter and Karns at Carter High School in Knoxville, Tenn. on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Kns Preps Karns Vs Carter. Credit: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
As an early enrollee, the tailback did what he typically always did in spring. He made plays and got better every day. In the fall, he showed up in scrimmages despite the crowded backfield with the likes of former Vols Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small. An injury, however, ended his freshman campaign before it ever started and stunted his development early on.
Despite the setback, Bishop used the time to grow as a person and to make sure his priorities were where they were supposed to be future success.
“Just starting to become more of a man. My first few months here, my head wasn’t in the right space. Not doing what I was supposed to do off the field,” the running back admitted. “I feel like the injury really helped me to lock in a little bit. It brought my focus more towards football because I kind of got a little off track on what my purpose was here and what are my goals that I was trying to accomplish. It really helped me to focus up on what I got to get done.”
The athlete called the injury a wakeup call. He vowed to get back on track and started the process in the training room. Once healthy, bishop picked up where he left off this past spring. Now in fall camp, he’s the old man in the room with Dylan Sampson being limited and Cam Seldon not taking contact.
There’s been plenty of opportunities for Bishop the past few weeks and he’s taken full advantage. Josh Heupel highlighted his positive play following the first scrimmage of camp and because of the injures, combined with his hard work, he’s in line to play a role for this team right out of the gate the first few weeks of the season.
“My confidence is there right now. Getting more comfortable coming off of injury, just trying to get back in my flow and do what I’m doing,” the redshirt-freshman said. “I feel like I’m doing that at a high level right now, and I’m just trying to get after it and prepare for the season.”
What started in the training room carried over to the weight room. Bishop is present in every meeting, asking questions to get better. The practice field has allowed the fruits of his labor to show and plenty have taken notice.
“I think just his practice habits and his meeting habits. When he goes into, whether in scrimmages or practice situations, everybody trusts him because he knows what to do and then he goes and operates at a high level,” Sims continued. “So, that’s kind of gaining the trust of the coaches and also his teammates, as well.”
Coastal Carolina might have been the original plan. The in-state power program [Tennessee] was always a goal, but walking on probably wasn’t what the local star envisioned. But life works in mysterious ways and now Bishop is just a little over two weeks away from doing what Jeezy was rapping about.
“I prayed to God about it and he brought me here. I take that as a blessing because a lot of kids – especially local kids – don’t get this opportunity,” Bishop told Volquest. “The way I have put myself in the [position] to play this season, I honestly think it is a blessing. I can’t take it for granted.
“You welcome that chip on your shoulder. There’s a lot of people pulling for me here, so I can’t let them down.”
Karns football player DeSean Bishop announces he will attend the University of Tennessee during an event held at Karns High on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. Kns Desean Bishop Bp. Credit: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sampson will be the lead back for Tennessee this season. The plan is for Seldon to work in behind and be the second-option for the Vols. Peyton Lewis was signed this offseason and has a bright future ahead of him. Khalifa Keith is also a second-year back in the system.
But Sampson is limited right now. Seldon is out and Lewis is playing catchup. Bishop has passed Keith as of now and is truly leading the running back room with plenty of positive buzz in camp. The local standout is about to put on for [his] city come August 31 and there’s going to be plenty of fans cheering him on.
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