National media outlet makes strong statement about the Tennessee Vols' running back room for the 2025 season

CBS Sports recently ranked the top running backs in the SEC and Tennessee Vols running back DeSean Bishop, UT's de facto starting running back, came in near the bottom of the list at No. 14. 

While CBS Sports doesn't have a Tennessee running back rated among the top running backs in the SEC, the national sports media outlet is high on the Vols' running back room as a whole. 

In fact, CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah noted that if he were to rank the top running back rooms in the SEC, Tennessee's would be in the top five. 

From CBS Sports: Tennessee will run a legitimate three-headed system with Bishop, Peyton Lewis and Star Thomas in 2025, so don't overthink Bishop's individual ranking. If we were ranking running back rooms, the Vols would be top five. Bishop was another promising freshman who rushed for 65 yards against Oklahoma and 7.2 yards per carry against Alabama. 

Running back Dylan Sampson, who should be at least a mid-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, was a workhorse for the Vols in 2024 while setting the program record for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a season. 

Sampson, however, wore down by the end of the season due to the heavy usage. As a result, Sampson, who was the SEC offensive player of the year in 2024, played just 16 snaps in Tennessee's loss to Ohio State in the first round of the College Football Playoff. 

Tennessee's three-headed monster approach in 2025 should allow UT's running backs to stay fresh for the duration of the season.