Josh Heupel recently downplayed a big concern for the Vols, but Tennessee is ‘mindful’ of it and plans to address it
The Tennessee Vols aren’t ignoring one of their big concerns in the final month of the season.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel didn’t seem too concerned last week when asked about running back DeSean Bishop’s heavy workload.
Bishop has 180 touches through the first eight games of the season. He’s averaging 29 carries per game over his last four games. He is currently on pace to finish the season with 270 total touches.
If Bishop continues on the same pace as the last four games, he’ll finish with 296 total touches.
In 2024, Vols running back Dylan Sampson finished the regular season with 255 touches. He was a non-factor in Tennessee’s loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff because he was so banged up.
We’ve already seen Bishop have to leave a couple of games (before coming back into the game) due to getting banged up.
Heupel was asked about Bishop’s workload last week and he essentially said that Tennessee’s gotta do what it’s gotta do in order to win games right now.
“That’s (reaching the playoff) certainly the end objective in this game,” said Heupel. “But if you’re focused on that, you’ll have no chance to accomplish it. We’ve got to be in the present. DeSean is a massive part of our football team and has played at a really high level. He’s got a chance to heal up this week, too, and we’re going to need him at his best as we go down the stretch.”
While Heupel seemed to downplay the concern about Bishop, it sounds like behind-the-scenes there’s a concerted effort to get Tulane transfer running back Javin Gordon more involved in the final four games of the season.
Gordon suffered an injury earlier this season and is just now getting back close to 100 percent.
“I think Javin Gordon’s emergence to help and be a complement for DeSean Bishop is [important],” said VolQuest publisher and Vol Network sideline reporter Brent Hubbs on The Mike Keith Show. “I think that he found himself a bit at South Carolina. I think Tennessee’s got some confidence in him. I think Tennessee is mindful of how much they beat up DeSean Bishop in the month of October.
“I think you’re going to see Javin Gordon throughout the entire game (against Kentucky). But I think his work in the first half is going to be [notable]. He’s a guy that when we talk about depth, he’s one that may be your depth piece on offense that emerges here in the month of November.”
Gordon had six carries for 41 yards and one reception for five yards in the Vols’ 27-24 loss to South Carolina two weeks ago. He also had an 18-yard run called back because of a ticky-tack holding penalty that was called on wide receiver Radarious Jackson.
If Tennessee is going to make any noise in November and in the playoff, they’ll need Bishop to be as healthy as possible. Gordon carrying some of that workload would be massive for the Vols’ offense.
