Tennessee football redshirt freshman impressing at running back

Tennessee football is continuing fall camp and finished its first scrimmage on Friday. Starting running back Dylan Sampson didn't play in the scrimmage, allowing the younger backs to sort out the depth chart in the backfield. 

Redshirt freshman DeSean Bishop received running back reps with the starting offense and impressed Josh Heupel and the coaching staff. Heupel praised Bishop after the scrimmage, highlighting his efficient play at running back. 

"I thought DeSean Bishop had a really nice night, efficient, effective, ran hard," Heupel said post-scrimmage. "I thought he did a really nice job." 

Heupel also talked about Bishop showing flashes last season before suffering a pre-season ankle injury. He showed consistency and efficiency last season before being hamstrung by an injury. 

"A year ago, before he got hurt, I really liked how he was flashing in practice and early in the scrimmage," said Heupel. "He's very consistent. I'm really proud of how he's rebounded from the injury. 

"Just his continued growth as a person, the way that he approaches every day when he comes into the building. He's got great vision, great pace. He does a really good job of using the blockers in front of him and setting those blockers up. And he ran with great pad level tonight."

Tenessee has been known for approaching the running back position by committee since Heupel came to Knoxville. If Bishop continues to improve throughout fall camp, we could see Sampson and Bishop as the Vols' one-two punch in the backfield this season. 

The Vols also have true freshman Peyton Lewis and sophomore Khalifa Keith sorting out the rest of the depth chart, although it looks like Bishop is the front-runner at running back. Cam Seldon could also return soon after his shoulder injury in the spring, adding another strong back to Tennessee's backfield.