No matter how promising a college football season might seem in August, you can’t be sure your optimism will last through September.
Every team has questions. Tennessee is no different.
The biggest question: How will its new quarterback perform? You also might wonder if the new placekicker will be an upgrade over last season and how much new coordinator Jim Knowles can improve UT’s defense.
But you can be more sure of this: The Vols likely will have a 1,000-yard rusher.
Tennessee has repeatedly produced an efficient running game under coach Josh Heupel, who also managed successful running games as a head coach at UCF and as an offensive coordinator elsewhere. SEC defenses haven't slowed down his rushing attack.
Jaylen Wright led the Vols in rushing
with 1,013 yards in 2023.
Dylan Sampson followed that by rushing for 1,491 yards in 2024, a single-season school record, and was honored as the SEC offensive player of the year.
DeSean Bishop, a former walk-on, rushed for 1,076 yards last season. That marked only the second time Tennessee had produced 1,000-yard rushers in three consecutive seasons. The Vols also had three consecutive 1,000-yard rushers from 1993 through 1995 (Charlie Garner, James Stewart and Jay Graham).
UT's current streak is also impressive when you consider its conference competition.
Georgia has become the SEC's marquee football program under Kirby Smart and usually features a strong running game. But it hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since D'Andre Swift in 2019. As good as Alabama has been, it hasn't had a running back rush for 1,000 yards since Brian Robinson in 2021.
Tennessee's streak of 1,000-yard rushers should continue this year. Bishop is back and will be running behind an experienced offensive line, which likely will be one of the SEC’s best.
Given that history, it’s no wonder five-star running back David Gabriel Georges, one of the top recruits in the 2027 class, committed to Tennessee on July 22. Running backs have thrived under Heupel wherever he has been.
There’s irony in how well Heupel's offenses have run the ball.
In 2000, when Heupel quarterbacked the Sooners to a 13-0 season and a national championship, the offense was heavily reliant on his passing. He passed for 3,372 yards while the Sooners averaged only 134.6 yards rushing per game.
As an assistant and head coach, Heupel’s offense also has featured prolific passing attacks. But his teams have run the ball better than the Sooners did in their championship season.
In Heupel’s last season (2014) as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, running back Samaje Perine rushed for 1,713 yards. Missouri also ran the ball effectively when he was its offensive coordinator in 2016-17. Damarea Crockett rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each season.
Heupel had another 1,000-rusher as a head coach at UCF, his last stop before coming to Tennessee. UCF’s Greg McCrae rushed for 1,182 yards in Heupel’s first season at Central Florida.
Heupel likely would have produced more 1,000-yard rushers with the Knights if they hadn’t been so deep at running back. In 2019, four running backs rushed for more than 600 yards.
That’s Heupel’s history with the running game. His future could be even better, based on how the Vols have recruited.
They strengthened their offensive line in 2025 by signing proven transfers Sam Pendleton and Wendell Moe Jr., both of whom are returning as starters. David Sanders Jr. could anchor Tennessee’s 2027 offensive line, and there's Jesse Perry and LSU transfer Ory Williams.
Bishop could return, too. And he will be joined by Gabriel Georges.
So, no one should be surprised if Tennessee extends its rushing streak another two seasons.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football's best bet is another 1,000-yard rusher for Josh Heupel | Adams
