Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 56-9vs Furman | 14 | 97 | 6.9 | 1 | 20 | |
| Wk 2 | W 45-24@ Georgia Tech | 20 | 147 | 7.4 | 2 | 33 | Season-high 147 yds |
| Total | 34 | 244 | 7.2 | 3 | 33 |
#18
DeSean Bishop
Junior running back for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 215 lb · Knoxville, TN · Karns
CFB Index 84 · #12 of 326 RBsHigh confidenceReturning to Tennessee for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
244
rushing yards · 2026
3 TD · 7.2 per carry · 1 catches
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 147 rush yds, 2 TD, 15 rec yds, at Georgia Tech
Swing playSwung Tennessee from 48% to 72% to win.New Mexico State at Tennessee · 42-9
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 running back for Tennessee. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Tennessee in 2023.
- Vols linebacker Arion Carter suspended (Jul 31) Reported
Aura™ · Him Watch
Underrated
-25aura tax
Fans rank this player in the 74th percentile of RBs; the tape says
99th pctl our rushing-value metric (wEPA) RBs · 140 qualified, n=54
— the tape outruns the hype.Aura — fan perception74th pctl
Production — on-field99th pctl
n=54 mentions · cohort: RBs · 140 qualified · perception = conversation volume, production = our rushing-value metric (wEPA)
Buzz vs Tape
Country hotter than the fans
The wider college football conversation reads him warmer than his own fans do — a gap of 40.7 points in belief.
29.3own fans
70national conversation
Tennessee Volunteers score the perfect slot for SEC Media Days, setting the stage for maximum buzz around Josh Heupel's squad. With quarterbacks George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon, a revamped defense under Jim Knowles, and stars like…
Also worth knowing:
In Their Words
181 windows · 2026 fan posts
desean×652.5tennessee×41.9running×10.0back×6.4top×7.3
“Tennessee bounces back with a top 20 defense, and DeSean Bishop leads the SEC in rushing”
reddit/CFB · fan post, verbatim
DeSean Bishop
Hits the crease and outruns the angle. This is his third year in the same backfield at Tennessee. His first career honor landed in 2025: All-SEC. The receipt on tape: 147 rush yds, 15 rec yds against Georgia Tech, Week 2, 2026.
244 RUSH YDS · 3 RUSH TD · 34 CARRIES
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- recognition record
- game log
His career
Nobody recruited him. He earned the honors anyway.
2023
- Signed with Tennessee3-star out of Karns
202513 games
- All-SECsecond
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Tennessee
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🎖
ALL-SEC · 2ND TEAM
All-SEC 2nd team (2025)
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
1 coach2024–2026
Tennessee
Played his entire career under Josh Heupel.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
3 seasons under Josh Heupel — 20-8 over that span.
2024Tennessee10-3HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
2025Tennessee8-5HC: Josh Heupel · Balanced
2026Tennessee2-0HC: Josh Heupel · Run-heavy
Where this profile ranks vs the RB cohort
Box-score percentiles
High confidenceBreakout
Elite: yards / carry (93rd percentile). Strength: rush tds (80th percentile). Concern: carries (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (8)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 122 YDS/g, 7.2 YPC, 1.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Josh Heupel
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix to repeat All-SEC
Based on 2025: #3 of 37 SEC RBs
How the All-SEC estimate is computed
49% estimated, 95% confidence interval 43–54%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 56–9
vs Furman
97 rush yds (14 car) · 1 TD
Dominant 47-point win at home against Furman.
With F. Brandon — 226 yds · 3 TD · 0 INT · 68 rush yds (10 car) · 2 TD · M. Matthews — 4 rec · 132 yds · 2 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 3&1 · Q4 · EPA +3.09(04:31) No Huddle-Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 29 yards gain to the GT 00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 04:25, 1ST DOWN #28 C.Ranvier kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady)
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +2.58(11:45) No Huddle-Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 17 yards gain to the GT 00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:41, 1ST DOWN #28 C.Ranvier kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady)
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +2.24(13:40) Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 33 yards gain to the GT 30 (#3 J.Mbakwe), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Furman · 2&1 · Q2 · EPA +1.90(03:06) No Huddle #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 1 yard gain to the FUR00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:05 PENALTY FUR Illegal Substitution declined #28 C.Ranvier kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady)
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 2&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.84(09:17) No Huddle-Shotgun #11 F.Brandon pass complete short left to #18 D.Bishop caught at UT 25, for 15 yards to the UT 37 (#2 E.Lightsey), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Furman · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +1.54(01:41) No Huddle-Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 20 yards gain to the TENN38 (#6 J.Tarver), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Furman · 4&1 · Q2 · EPA +1.50(04:21) Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 2 yards gain to the FUR32 (#93 D.Baldwin; #94 C.Bussey), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Furman · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -1.48(09:36) No Huddle-Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 6 yards gain to the TENN38 fumbled by #18 D.Bishop at TENN38 forced by #95 J.Stoneking recovered by FUR #19 R.Earl at TENN38, End Of Play. TENN is challenging the ruling on the field - "Fumble". CALL UPHELD
- Week 1 · Furman · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +1.43(12:42) No Huddle-Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 18 yards gain to the TENN38 (#9 E.Lipscomb), 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Georgia Tech · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA -1.24(08:31) Shotgun #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 1 yard loss to the UT 36 (#99 V.Carroll-Jackson)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Tennessee
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Running back · Tennessee
Returning around him
- 35% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 5 Tennessee players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -8 net (21 in / 29 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Tennessee · Last season: 8-5 (AP #18) · Talent rank #13 · 2026 recruiting class #8
DNA match
Player DNA
Speed Merchant
Cuts upfield fast. Designed to find the crease, not run through the line.
RB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jerome Ford’s 2021 season.
78%match
All-AACNFL Rd 5
Matches Jerome on
Weight
Receiving share
EPA / carry (adj)
Differs from Jerome on
Recruiting rating (lower)
Height (lower)
Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Ahmad Hardy’s path through Missouri.
93%match
Consensus All-American
Matches Ahmad on
Height
Yards per carry
Weight
As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to B.J. Baylor's sophomore season at Oregon State (2021).
70%match
Matches B.J. on
Height
EPA / carry (adj)
Differs from B.J. on
Rush TD rate (higher)
Class year (lower)
Receiving share (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like DeSean Bishop
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #68
Peaked at #68 this season.
Background
CAREER HONORS 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List 2026 Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List 2026 Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Athlon) 2026 Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Coaches | Media | Phil Steele) 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 2025 Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist 2025 All...
The backfield · Tennessee
- #18DeSean Bishop1,076 rushing yards · 2025
- #6Javin Gordon516 rushing yards · 2025
- #17Daune Morris133 rushing yards · 2025
- #2Justin Baker43 rushing yards · 2025
- #24Hunter Barnes2 rushing yards · 2025
1 more on the roster · Tennessee team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology