Tennessee fans have every right to be upset about DeSean Bishop’s CFB 27 rating

If there is one thing true about Tennessee heading into next season, it’s that the Vols have one of the best running backs in the nation in their backfield. DeSean Bishop was a staple of Josh Heupel’s offense last year, rushing for 1,076 yards and finding the end zone 16 times. He was a menace with the ball in his hands and helped lead Tennessee to another top-10 offense. The Knoxville product has one of the best success stories in college football, going from walk-on to All-SEC performer as a redshirt sophomore.

George MacIntyre’s Manning Passing Academy showing could shake up the Tennessee QB battle

That said, EA Sports doesn’t view Bishop as one of the best running backs in the country. For the new College Football 27 video game, EA has begun releasing player ratings, and Bishop didn't crack the top 10 among running backs.

DeSean Bishop was snubbed by EA Sports

This ranking is a bit ridiculous, but at the end of the day, it’s just a video game. What stands out even more is that Tennessee brought in Cam Cook this offseason to potentially be Bishop’s backup, yet Cook somehow received a higher overall rating. Cook is a talented player and led the NCAA with nearly 1,700 rushing yards last season, but that production came at Jacksonville State. He’s a good running back, but I don’t think he’s on Bishop’s level.

Not to mention, Jadan Baugh is a nice piece for Florida, but Bishop had double the rushing touchdowns last season and posted much better yards-per-carry numbers. Baugh did finish with more rushing yards, but it was by fewer than 100 yards despite having 38 more carries. Baugh’s biggest strengths are his power and ability to gain yards after contact, yet Bishop still finished with twice as many touchdowns.

It feels like Tennessee gets snubbed quite a bit in these types of situations when it comes to rankings. Perhaps being a Second-Team All-SEC selection isn’t enough to crack the top 10. It just means Bishop has more to prove next season, something he's never been a stranger to doing.

Next season, Bishop will have plenty of opportunities to silence the doubters and improve his rating. Tennessee will be starting a young quarterback next fall, whether it’s Faizon Brandon or George MacIntyre, and the Vols will likely lean heavily on the running game to help take pressure off the quarterback.

Heupel’s schematic shift toward a more pro-style offense should also benefit Bishop. Tennessee will still use inside and outside zone runs, but the Vols have gradually changed their offensive identity over the last couple of years. This will help Bishop prepare for the next level, where it's much less RPO and zone-read concepts.

Bishop could certainly find his way into the top 10 as the season progresses, given the workload he is expected to handle and the talent he possesses. For now, though, it’s just another slight against the young running back, who has consistently made the most of every opportunity he’s been given. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes the most of this one, too.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow