Senior Staff Writer/Editor/Host
When opportunity knocks, some players seize it and never look back. That’s exactly what redshirt freshman DeSean Bishop did on Saturday night against Kent State.
Bishop, a Knoxville native from Karns High School, committed to Tennessee on National Signing Day in 2021. The three-star recruit racked up an astounding 8,347 rushing yards and 102 touchdowns in his high school career, earning back-to-back Tennessee Titans 5A Mr. Football awards. He chose the Vols over offers from 17 Division I programs, including Power Five teams Michigan State, Virginia Tech, and Purdue.
Despite his high school success, Bishop’s freshman season saw him buried on the depth chart behind Jaylen Wright, Dylan Sampson, Jabari Small, and Cameron Seldon. With limited playing time, he was given a redshirt tag to preserve his eligibility.
Now in his redshirt freshman season, Bishop still isn’t a part of the regular rotation. However, in the Vols' first two games, he tallied 102 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries, showcasing his efficiency with a 6.8-yard average. Against Kent State, given a bigger opportunity, he capitalized in a big way. On first-and-10 from Tennessee’s 47-yard line, he broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Then, on fourth-and-one at the same 47-yard mark, Bishop turned in another long, 47-yard touchdown. Clearly, 47 was his magic number that night.
He finished the game with seven carries, 120 yards, and two touchdowns—a night to remember for both Bishop and his hometown fans in Knoxville.
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