The 2026 Preseason All-SEC teams just dropped from SEC media days in Tampa, and while four Tennessee Volunteers football players got the nod, one name on that list, running back DeSean Bishop, is already making us furious. This redshirt junior absolutely exploded last season, piling up a ridiculous 1,076 rushing yards, yet he’s somehow only landed on the Third-Team All-SEC. What in the world were they thinking?
Bishop’s Untapped Fury and the Immovable Wall
Let’s talk about DeSean Bishop first. The guy earned Second-Team All-SEC last season. How do you go backwards after putting up even better numbers? He’s the first returning 1,000-yard rusher for the Vols since Jalen Hurd back in 2016. Bishop was a machine, finishing the 2025 campaign as the league’s fourth leading rusher (1,076 yards) and fifth in rushing yards per game (82.8). He punched in 16 rushing touchdowns, tied for second in the entire SEC and a stellar sixth in the FBS. The fact that he’s still a Third-Team guy tells me someone in that media room needs to re-watch the tapes.
Then you’ve got the big boys up front. Offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr. is back for his second season and final collegiate campaign in 2026. This guy is a brick wall who already earned first-team all-conference honors from the Associated Press last year. He made 11 starts last season and allowed just ONE sack in a staggering 689 offensive snaps. That’s not a typo! He’s also a Walter Camp Preseason All-American. He’s a monster. Next to Moe Jr., David Sanders Jr. is another absolute stud. He stepped up big as a true freshman last season, starting nine games (six at right tackle). He didn’t allow a single sack in eight of those nine contests! The guy was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, and he’s just getting started.
Arion Carter’s NFL-Caliber Return is Seriously Underrated
And on defense? Linebacker Arion Carter, man. This guy is the real deal. He actually withdrew his name from the 2026 NFL draft to return for his senior season. He’s coming back to dominate, and he already led the entire conference in tackles per game, averaging 7.6, even while battling a foot injury for most of the season. That’s grit! Over his career with the Vols, he’s played 31 games, with 22 starts, and he stacked up a career-high 76 tackles last year. Not just that, he also recorded six tackles for a loss, two pass breakups, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. This guy is all over the field, a true game-wrecker, and the SEC media puts him on Third-Team too? Seriously, what more does he have to do?
So, four Vols getting preseason nods, three of them on offense and Carter on defense. It’s a testament to the talent in Knoxville. But if the SEC media is already sleeping on a 1,000-yard rusher and a guy who led the league in tackles per game, you know these Vols are going to play with a massive chip on their shoulder. Expect Bishop, Moe Jr., Sanders Jr., and Carter to absolutely tear it up and prove every single one of those preseason rankings wrong when the season kicks off. This is going to be incredibly fun to watch.
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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