DeSean Bishop was given a Tennessee football scholarship two years after joining the Vols as a walk-on running back and under-recruited Knoxville high school star.
He could’ve accepted a scholarship at mid-major schools when he came out of nearby Karns High as a two-time Mr. Football winner. Instead, he bet on himself and came to UT with no promise of ever receiving a scholarship.
In January, Bishop got the good news that he was going on scholarship. But he talked candidly about it for the first time on Wednesday.
“It was a little bit of relief, that the hard work had paid off,” Bishop said. “I’m blessed. A lot of kids in Knoxville would love to have the opportunity that I have. Not a lot of people from my city get this opportunity.”
Bishop earned his scholarship by steadily climbing the depth chart over the past two seasons. Now he’s competing with Peyton Lewis and Duke transfer Star Thomas for a starting job in the 2025 season.
“I ain’t gonna lie. I can’t even say that I did (expect to be competing to start as a redshirt sophomore),” Bishop said. “That was especially (true) because of being hurt (in 2023 and 2024) and you’ve got a lot of good guys in front of you – guys with more stars (in recruit ratings) and stuff like that.
“But I just trusted in God, and it deepened my faith. If he didn’t think I could handle what’s ahead of me this year, then he wouldn’t have put me in it.”
Bishop took a redshirt in 2023 after suffering a preseason injury. In 2024, he outplayed scholarship players with higher recruit ratings to earn the backup spot behind Dylan Sampson, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
Bishop rushed for 455 yards and three TDs, missing three games due to injury. And Lewis rushed for 339 yards and three TDs. Their ascension, in part, pushed running backs Cam Seldon and Khalifa Keith into the transfer portal.
With UT’s Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday, it appears Bishop and Lewis are the co-starters at running back. Thomas is in the mix after transferring to UT in January and learning the finer points of the playbook in spring practice.
Bishop earned his scholarship, but he intends to keep his underdog edge.
“I know there’s an opportunity to be that guy,” Bishop said. “I feel like I’m embracing that. I feel like I’ve worked to deserve that spot, but I’m not going to get complacent. I’m living in the moment, and I know I’ll reap the benefits when the season comes around.”
Running backs coach De’Rail Sims said Bishop is playing like the record-breaking back he was in high school but still working like a walk-on.
“You don’t just have that production (in high school) if you’re not a really good player,” Sims said. “He always has that chip on his shoulder. He always has a point to prove. But he carries himself where he’s not arrogant. He has confidence, but he’s still humble.”
Bishop was committed to Coastal Carolina for his entire 2022 senior season. He hoped for a scholarship offer from a Power Four conference school that never came.
Bishop had eye-popping stats. He rushed for 8,347 yards and 102 touchdowns in his career at Karns. That ranked second and third, respectively, in Tennessee high school history.
But college coaches questioned his skill, speed and long-term potential. He was rated a three-star recruit and the No. 36 player in the state of Tennessee by 247Sports Composite.
Two weeks before signing day, he decommitted from Coastal Carolina and ultimately announced he’d enroll at Tennessee as a preferred walk-on.
“I feel like people were trying to persuade me to go to Coastal (Carolina) and stay there,” Bishop said. “But there was something in me that always thought I was bigger than that, and that’s not taking anything away from Coastal. But I’ve always thought I could play at this level.
“And I feel like I’ve been doubted ever since I came here. And people are still doubting me, but it doesn’t really bother me.”
Granted, Tennessee coaches knew Bishop wasn’t a typical walk-on. And, presumably, he received some financial assistance for his name, image and likeness from a collective associated with UT athletes.
But a scholarship changes Bishop’s status on the roster, even if he doesn’t dwell on it.
“Obviously, it helps financially. Scholarship or not, I’ve been proving myself every day and I feel like I’ve got to earn it every day,” Bishop said. “I keep remembering (as motivation), ‘They just now put you on (scholarship).’
“So I’ve got to keep going. It’s the next step. I earned a scholarship, now it’s time to perform.”
Last season, Tennessee featured Sampson, who broke the program’s single-season rushing record. Bishop and Lewis took turns as Sampson’s sidekick, but rarely in the same game.
However, the backfield may expand from a duo to a trio in the 2025 season.
Bishop and Lewis were already in a close competition. Thomas is a veteran running back and an all-purpose producer with more than 2,500 yards from scrimmage and 22 TDs in his Division I college career, which spans from New Mexico State to Duke.
Freshman running backs Daune Morris and Justin Baker also debuted in spring practice as early enrollees.
That backfield battle will play out in the fall. But Bishop undoubtedly will be in the mix, which is quite a feat for a former walk-on.
“I look around, and it’s just crazy that I’m here with an opportunity to start for the Tennessee Volunteers (in) my home city,” Bishop said. “In high school, I never thought of this at all. I never would think that it would turn out this way, so I’m very blessed to be where I’m at now.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Emailadam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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