Bishop hopes to be ready to play by March
By Steve Williams
Tennessee freshman running back De’Sean Bishop is on the road to recovery and hopes to be 100 percent for spring practice in March, he told The Focus last Thursday.
The Karns High School product and one of the nation’s top RBs in 2022 was injured in summer camp last August.
“I had a fracture of my fibula,” said Bishop. “I’m like five months in now and two months out from fully being recovered.”
De’Sean said he’s able to work out and run. The fracture basically is still there, he said, and he’s working on getting the rest of his body back in strong condition.
Bishop said his weight is still the same (he’s 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds) as it was when he first reported to UT as an early enrollee.
“It (the injury) is in the past, so I’m just trying to get back to where I was when I first got here and not let it bother me.”
This reporter asked Bishop if he would be at the bottom of the depth chart when he returns.
“I wouldn’t say the bottom,” replied De’Sean. “I mean, it’s just competition now. It’s a whole new world now. Two older guys are leaving, so I’ll see where I fit in and just work from there.”
Bishop is living on campus and majoring in Communication Skills.
As for the new transfer portal and money for NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), Bishop said it hadn’t crossed his mind to get in the transfer portal or anything. He said he felt good about where he was in the Tennessee program.
“It’s going smooth,” he said. “We’re in a good spot right now.”
Bishop was a two-time Mr. Football honoree in his high school career and ranked as the TSSAA’s No. 2 all-time leading rusher.
His dream came true on National Signing Day (Dec. 21, 2022) as he joined the UT program.
At the end of the signing ceremony, Karns Coach Brad Taylor said: “UT Coach Josh Huepel has always been a big fan of De’Sean and really likes what he can do. He really thinks De’Sean has a good opportunity of being successful at Tennessee.”
Bishop went on to have a good performance in the Orange and White game last spring.
