KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — In just 16 days, Knoxville will rock as the Tennessee Vols open the 2024 season at Neyland Stadium and Chattanooga comes to town—but first there are more than two weeks of crucial work on the practice field.
After another solid day on Wednesday in the eleventh practice of preseason camp, the Vols will take the field on Thursday for their next team scrimmage.
One key area for the Vols to consider when the lights come back on is the running back room, but it’s also about the specific pieces in that room that are essential.
After losing last year’s top two backfield players, Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small, the Vols now have to rely on a diverse mix of talented players to take on that role – and junior Dylan Sampson is unmatched.
“He coaches the guys. He sits up there and does mental drills. When he’s doing his drills or when he’s not involved in the drive, he sees and visualizes really well what’s going to happen,” running backs coach De’Rail Sims said. “Then when he sees something from the younger guys, he’s the first one to attack it and coach it. So from that standpoint, he’s been a really good leader.”
But one of the young players who are on the verge of making a breakthrough is Knoxville native DeSean Bishop, who is hoping to finally make an appearance in 2024 after initially being ruled out but then getting injured in 2023 and receiving a redshirt.
“I have my confidence right now. I’m feeling more comfortable after my injury and just trying to get back into my rhythm and do what I do,” Bishop said. “I feel like I’m doing that at a high level right now and I’m just trying to push through it and get ready for the season.”
Bishop is one of the guys that Coach Sims and Co. are really looking forward to seeing on the field this fall.
I think when you look at DeSean, he’s kind of an old-time football player mentally. He doesn’t get rattled. He’s got his routine as far as maintaining his body. He does a really good job of coming out here and attacking,” Sims said. “Then when he attacks on the field, he’s the first one out (and) he’s always going to be the last one off because he’s always bringing in extra work. So his mentality is a bulldog mentality in the sense that he’s going to attack you every day.
