It’s been a successful offensive start for Tennessee football in its game against UAB. The Vols hung 42 points in the opening 30 minutes behind a strong attack through the air and on the ground. Perhaps nobody had a better start than running back DeSean Bishop, though.
The local halfback took nine carries for 59 yards. He punched two of these in for touchdowns, as well. Overall, he’s averaging 6.6 yards per pop in the game. After his second score just ahead of halftime, he finished the play near the family section. He quickly made his way over to his mom to celebrate the touchdown.
The rush put Tennessee up 42-7, the score that held going into the half. It was a two-yard scamper, after a pass interference penalty in the end zone gave UT the prime field position.
TD cellies with mom >>> pic.twitter.com/hKybWrhAXj
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 20, 2025
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Bishop is a local player who formerly starred at Knoxville’s Karns High School. The three-star prospect was committed to Coastal Carolina on scholarship, but decommitted after Jamey Chadwell left for Liberty. With his recruitment reopened, he opted to walk on at Tennessee instead of taking scholarship opportunities elsewhere.
As a freshman, he often garnered the praise of Vols head coach Josh Heupel during the offseason. However, an injury sidelined him for the entire year. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, he backed up Dylan Sampson during his historic season. Bishop ran for 455 yards and three touchdowns that year.
This season, he has been the starting back in all four games. Through the first three, Bishop posted 204 rushing yards and a touchdown. These numbers were obviously raised in the first half against UAB, though.
Bishop joins a strong running back room that also features transfer Star Thomas and sophomore Peyton Lewis. In the first half against the Blazers, both of those backs also found the end zone on the ground.
