One of the scarier moments of Tennessee’s season came in the Vols’ win over Arkansas when DeSean Bishop went down after an awkward hip drop tackle late in the third quarter. Bishop was down for an extended amount of time before walking off on his own power but not returning for the game.
Josh Heupel said following the game that he didn’t believe it was a long term injury for Bishop and provided a positive short term update while meeting with the media Monday.
“Feel like DeSean (Bishop) will be ready to go in this one,” Heupel said Monday.
To replace Bishop against Arkansas, Peyton Lewis entered with the balld at the seven-yard line. His first rush went for five yards to create second-and-goal. He punched it in from the two to give the Vols a 10-point advantage with little time left in the third quarter.
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Lewis ran the ball twice more in the red zone on the next drive, punching it in from two yards out. Both Lewis and Star Thomas split playing time the rest of the way. Lewis finished the game with eight carries for 33 yards and two touchdowns while Thomas ran 10 times for 23 yards.
“We trust all those guys,” Heupel said. “Peyton had a great game the other night, finished it off in four minutes really, really good way. Couple goal line situations. Star’s played really well throughout the course of the year, and the young guys are ready to go play too.”
Despite the injury, Bishop had by far the biggest game of the group. He rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. It was the best statistical game of his career.
On the season, including his game against Arkansas, Bishop has earned 481 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. He has also recorded three receptions for 44 yards. Tennessee football put the game away on the ground on the final drive as the Vols finished the game with 264 rushing yards on 40 carries.
Alabama provides Tennessee’s rushing offense with one of its most difficult tests of the season to date Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff at Bryant-Denny Stadium is at 7:30 p.m. ET. Sean McDonough, former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy and Molly McGrath are on the call for ABC.
