Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman has a mentality that should lead to plenty of opportunities in 2024
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman running back DeSean Bishop appears poised to play a key role for the program this fall. The running back reps behind starter Dylan Sampson are wide open. And Bishop, who missed last season due to injury, is making the most of his opportunities during fall camp while fellow running backs Cam […]
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman running back DeSean Bishop appears poised to play a key role for the program this fall.
The running back reps behind starter Dylan Sampson are wide open. And Bishop, who missed last season due to injury, is making the most of his opportunities during fall camp while fellow running backs Cam Seldon and Peyton Lewis are sidelined.
Tennessee running backs coach De'Rail Sims explained on Wednesday while speaking with reporters that the young running back is hungry to improve, often staying behind to put in extra work.
"When you walk in the building and you see this guy, walk into the weight room, how he attacks it," said Sims when asked about Bishop. "When he walks into the meeting room, no matter if it’s a special teams meeting, team meetings, or position meeting, he always has his notebook. He's always taking really, really good notes. And he has really good questions. And then when he attacks it on the field, he’s going to be the first guy out there. He’s always going to be the last guy to leave because he’s always getting extra work in. So his mentality is a bulldog mentality, in terms of he’s going to attack it every day.”
Sims added that he views Bishop as a "throwback" player who doesn't get flustered easy.
“I think when you look at DeSean, he’s kind of a throwback football player from a mentality standpoint," noted Sims. "He doesn’t get flustered. He does a really good job. He has his routine in terms of his body maintenance. He does a really good job when he comes out here and attacks. He’s very, very hard on himself. So if he makes a mistake, he’s frustrated with himself. But it doesn’t affect him on the next play."
"He’s quick in between the tackles," added Sims. "He's got really good short area quickness. His acceleration’s good. He has good hands out of the backfield. He knows the things that he needs to fine tune and kind of work on. But for me, in terms of what I look at with him, I see him as an old school throwback player — to where 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 along.”
Bishop, who joined the Vols as a walk on, could very well be the No. 2 running back on the depth chart when Tennessee opens the season against Chattanooga later this month. And if that's the case, the former three-star recruit will be ready.
"I'm confident in myself," said Bishop on Wednesday. "I think I've proved myself and it's just a matter of time before I get an opportunity."
He might not have to wait much longer for that opportunity.
