A Standout Season Overshadowed
DeSean Bishop, a redshirt junior running back for the Tennessee Volunteers, erupted onto the national stage in 2025, amassing 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
Those numbers placed him 29th in the country for total yards, sixth for touchdowns and 34th for efficiency, figures that would ordinarily merit inclusion on any major award watch list.
Yet the 2026 Doak Walker Award committee omitted Bishop from its initial 60‑player slate, a decision that has sparked debate among analysts and fans who point to his All‑SEC Second Team honors and his trajectory from walk‑on to SEC stalwart.
Coached by a staff that has steadily refined the Volunteers’ ground game, Bishop’s rise reflects both personal perseverance and the program’s developmental success, a narrative that aligns with the award’s intent to celebrate the nation’s most impactful back.
The exclusion not only highlights the subjective nature of watch‑list selections but also raises questions about the criteria used by the award’s selectors, especially as Bishop prepares to leverage his remaining two years of eligibility for what many anticipate will be an even more dominant season.
Looking Ahead
With the Volunteers eyeing a deep run in the upcoming bowl season, Bishop’s focus remains on refining his technique and expanding his role in the passing game.
Whether the Doak Walker committee will reconsider his candidacy as the season unfolds remains to be seen, but his performance has undeniably cemented his status as one of the SEC’s most compelling talents.