Tennessee football will have a new and unproven face at quarterback, but the spots around him are filled with experienced stars. This includes two players who have been named to CBS Sports’ top 25 offensive skill position players for the 2026 season.
On the list, running back DeSean Bishop clocks in at No. 19. This slots him as the No. 8 back in the country. Then, slot receiver Braylon Staley is at No. 24. This makes him the No. 12 wide receiver that was named.
Bishop is coming off a season in which he was extremely productive inside one of the SEC’s top offenses. As a redshirt-sophomore, Bishop played in all 13 games while recording 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 182 carries. He also caught 15 passes for 135 yards.
“A compact, explosive runner with sharp-cut ability, Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop excels in space, but that’s not his only strength,” CBS’s Brad Crawford wrote. “Tennessee has leaned on perimeter speed in recent years, but Bishop adds interior balance, forcing defenses to respect the run between the tackles. His value goes beyond raw production — he helps sustain drives, sets up play-action and keeps the offense ahead of schedule.”
More From RTI: Tennessee Football’s Top-Ranked Class of 2027 Commit Shuts Down Recruitment
Staley is also coming off an elite season. As a redshirt-freshman, his production was enough to earn him an SEC Freshman of the Year honor. He caught 68 passes for 837 yards and six touchdowns and is now expected to be the top option in the pass attack in 2026.
“There are growing expectations in Knoxville that Braylon Staley will have an All-American-like season at Tennessee after showcasing his skills last fall,” CBS’s Brad Crawford wrote. “He’s one of several emerging young playmakers for the Vols, who are loaded at the position. A quick, instinctive receiver with natural separation skills, Staley is expected to carve out a meaningful role in an offense that thrives on tempo and perimeter exploitation.”
With these options, it should make for a much easier adjustment for whoever wins the quarterback competition. The job is between a trio of options, true freshman Faizon Brandon, redshirt-freshman George MacIntyre and Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
