Part of the transfer portal process isn’t just signing new players. You also have to retain your own roster to make sure your best players are staying on campus. That’s what the Vols did on Wednesday with star running back DeSean Bishop.
According to a report from On3, Bishop has signed a new deal to stay in Knoxville. He will be entering his redshirt junior season and has two years of eligibility remaining.
This past season, Bishop was the lead back for Tennessee’s offense. He totalled 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries through 13 games. This marked the third-straight season the Vols have produced a 1,000-yard back after Dylan Sampson and Jaylen Wright did it before getting drafted.
More From RTI: Alabama QB, Potential Tennessee Portal Target Ty Simpson Declares For NFL Draft
In 2024, as a redshirt-freshman, Bishop was the second back in the room behind Sampson. He recorded 455 yards and three touchdowns on 74 totes. He missed his true freshman season due to an injury suffered in the preseason, but Josh Heupel spoke glowingly of him during that stretch of practices.
Bishop is a local product out of Karns High School in Knoxville. He won back-to-back Tennessee Titans 5A Mr. Football awards after totalling more than 6,000 all-purpose yards over his last two seasons. He led the Beavers to their first home playoff win in program history over Walker Valley in 2021.
Bishop was initially committed to Coastal Carolina with offers from Tulane and App State. However, after a coaching change, he decomitted and walked on with the Vols over offers. He was placed on scholarship ahead of the 2025 season.
He will join a Tennessee running back room that features just two other scholarship backs. This features Daune Morris and Justin Baker coming off their freshman seasons. The Vols have also been involved in the transfer portal, looking for another back.
