DeSean Bishop, Tennessee’s senior running back, just dropped a new career-high of 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 34 attempts against Auburn, and he made sure everyone knew exactly who that performance was for. This wasn’t just another game for Bishop; he straight up told reporters it was “very personal” because of Auburn coach Alex Golesh.
“They Got Feel What They Were Missing”
The beef goes back to 2023, when Bishop was coming out of Karns High School. Golesh, who was the Vols’ offensive coordinator from 2021-23, was a big reason Bishop didn’t get a scholarship and had to walk on at Tennessee. Can you imagine carrying that chip on your shoulder for years? Bishop absolutely did, saying, “He was one of the reasons I was a walk on at the University of Tennessee. So the mindset of that was just throughout the whole game, you know, that every time I touched the ball, like, they got feel me. They got feel what they were missing.” Auburn and Golesh definitely felt it on October 3, as the No. 17 Vols pulled off a 24-14 victory at Neyland Stadium. This kid, a two-time Mr. Football winner, chose his hometown school even with other offers, then had to fight for two years to earn a scholarship after not playing his freshman year and missing time with injuries as a sophomore. He clawed his way up the depth chart to a starting role and was an All-SEC selection last season with 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. This guy isn’t just playing; he’s proving a point.
Patience, Punishment, and a QB Switch
The Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) didn’t exactly start strong against Auburn (3-2, 1-2). The offense only managed three points by halftime and turned the ball over twice. Coach Josh Heupel even had to swap quarterbacks in the second quarter, putting in backup George MacIntyre for Faizon Brandon. Bishop himself had a quiet first half, with just 55 yards on 11 carries and one 15-yard touchdown called back on a penalty. But you gotta love the grit. Bishop talked about allowing the game to come to him, especially after a priority on running the ball this week. He said, “I’m just staying patient back there, waiting for my number to be called, waiting for big plays to be made, offensive line clearing up gaps and what not. It was only a matter of time before we started chipping away on them in the run game.” And chip away he did. In the third quarter, Bishop exploded for touchdown runs of 25 and 44 yards on back-to-back plays. Just like that, the Vols were ahead for good.
He Felt Like He Was Back at Karns
Bishop carried the rock 34 times, and it felt like a blast from the past for him. He said it reminded him of his high school days at Karns, where he was always trying to put his team in the best position to succeed, battling for respect on the recruiting trail. He brought that same energy and fight, running roughshod over Auburn’s defense and carrying his team to a huge win. For the No. 17 Vols, having Bishop playing with this kind of motivation and performing like *that* is everything. As they continue through the season, every opponent has to be ready for Bishop’s impact, especially when he has a chip on his shoulder. You just know he’s gonna keep showing everyone what they missed.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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