Selfless Standard: Vols’ RB Trio Leads Through Brotherhood
by Forest Jersey
Tennessee’s running back room embodies everything head coach Josh Heupel’s program stands for: selflessness, toughness and unity.
Three players with different paths — redshirt sophomore DeSean Bishop, senior Star Thomas and sophomore Peyton Lewis — have built one of the most cohesive and productive position groups on Rocky Top this fall.
Through eight games, the trio has combined for nearly 1,300 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, helping power one of the SEC’s most balanced offenses. Bishop leads the group with 91 carries for 652 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging an SEC-best 7.2 yards per carry (minimum 10 attempts per game). Thomas, a sixth-year graduate transfer, has added 417 yards and five scores on the ground with two more touchdowns through the air, while Lewis has contributed 240 yards and six rushing touchdowns during his second season with the Vols.
Despite the shared workload, there’s no competition for carries, only support and pride in one another’s success.
“I’d say the big one is selfless,” Bishop said when asked for a word to describe the room.
We play a lot of guys, and it’s easy to get an ego. But you don’t see that in this room. You just have guys that love each other and want to see each other do well. One’s success is everyone’s success.DeSean Bishop
Different Paths, Same Purpose
Bishop’s story is one of perseverance. The Knoxville native and former walk-on earned a scholarship in the spring of 2025 and has since developed into one of the SEC’s most efficient running backs. His leadership and consistency have anchored the group.
“I’m big on my faith,” Bishop said. “If you look at Jesus, that man was consistent every day, and that’s the mindset I take. I’m always striving to make people better, especially in the RB room. We’re all kind of young, so there’s urgency. Rent is due every day.”
Thomas brings a veteran presence after a well-traveled career that’s included stops at Coffeyville Community College, New Mexico State and Duke. When he arrived at Tennessee, the immediate sense of connection stood out.
“It’s way different from previous places I’ve been,” Thomas said of Tennessee’s culture. “From the coaches to the players, the brotherhood is really tight. From the first day I got here, I felt like I knew everybody already. That’s how great it’s been.”
Thomas describes the group as relentless, bound by a shared underdog mentality.
“We all have something we’re striving for,” he said. “We all come from underdog backgrounds, and we all have things to prove.”
Lewis, the youngest of the trio, has emerged as a dynamic change-of-pace option with track-level speed. The sophomore from Salem, Virginia, said his growth this season has been as much about leadership as production.
“I feel like my leadership skills have gotten a whole lot better since I’ve been here,” Lewis said. “Being in the three-man rotation, we all try to be leaders. When you have three people that want to lead, it makes it easier for the young guys to step up and see the standard.”
Carrying on the Legacy
The Vols’ running backs are mindful of the program’s history and the standard set by those who came before them. A list of former All-SEC performers lines the walls of their meeting room, a daily reminder of Tennessee’s tradition at the position.
“It’s a blessing to walk into a room that has more All-SEC players on the wall than anybody,” Bishop said. “We feel like this is RBU. Coach Sims talks about it all the time. We’re just grateful to be part of something so special and to have a chance to write our own legacy.”
Thomas echoed that pride, noting how the group looks to continue the momentum from recent standouts like 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson and 2023 NFL Draft pick Jaylen Wright.
“We just want to keep the standard going,” he said. “Seeing what those guys did, we try to build off that and be part of that history.”
Lewis added, “It definitely sets a standard for the room. Each day we go out there, we try to uphold that standard and perform to the best of our ability.”
Guided by Coach Sims
Running backs coach De’Rail Sims, now in his second season at Tennessee, has played a pivotal role in shaping the room’s identity. His approach blends faith, accountability and attention to detail, principles that resonate deeply with his players.
“It’s a blessing to have a man of faith leading us,” Bishop said. “He cares about us so much and never allows us to get complacent. We bump heads at times, but it’s all love at the end of the day.”
Thomas credits Sims for pushing him to refine every part of his game.
“He never lets me get complacent,” he said. “If I feel like I’m doing good, he’s there to coach me on the smallest thing. You don’t usually get that out of a coach.”
“He’s passionate about the game and our success,” Lewis added. “He’s enthusiastic but also empathetic. He really understands our point of view.”
A Room Built on Brotherhood
The Vols’ running back trio has turned its diversity of backgrounds into strength. Together, they’ve built a room defined by humility, trust and shared purpose, traits that show every Saturday when the rotation keeps the chains moving.
“Usually you don’t see that kind of selflessness in a running back room,” Thomas said. “But we all want to see each other do great, go out there and produce.”
That collective mindset has helped make the group one of the most dependable units on the team.
“One’s success is everyone’s success,” Bishop said. “That’s what makes this room special. One out there balling, we’re all out there balling in my eyes.”
