Vikings Draft Scouting: Tennessee RB DeSean Bishop

Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop had a dominant Week 5 performance against Auburn, leading the Volunteers to victory and cementing himself as a 2027 NFL Draft prospect. He then followed that up with another strong performance against Arkansas over the weekend. 

His combination of quickness, power, and vision makes him an intriguing prospect for the Minnesota Vikings next offseason.

Bishop was unstoppable on in Week 5, rushing for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 6.5 yards per attempt and didn’t go down easily, tallying 158 yards after contact and forcing 10 missed tackles. He’s not only a premier back in the SEC after this performance, but in the entire nation.

Despite this breakout showing, Bishop has been a productive player throughout his career. After redshirting in 2023, he ran for 455 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore campaign. Then, he followed that up with 983 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2025 as his first season starting.

Now, he’s getting national recognition and is emerging as a day-two draft pick next April.

Bishop, the five-foot-10, 215-pound prospect, is a fluid mover who pairs rapid acceleration with respectable top-end speed. He won’t outrun everybody, but he has enough juice to create big plays. Additionally, his frame and natural leverage give him staggering power to bulldoze players. He’s not afraid of contact and frequently goes through smaller defenders' chests.

Beyond this, Bishop’s vision and patience behind the line separate him from the typical athletic running back. He allows his blocks to solidify and surveys the field before using his aforementioned acceleration to glide through the lane. This helps him enter the second level at full speed and lessens the chance of negative plays.

The biggest concern around Bishop is his NFL utilization. Currently, he’s not a third-down threat with his subpar receiving production and questionable pass blocking. As a result, he won’t see play on passing downs and could become a run indicator. Counteracting this by developing as a receiver and blocker is imperative to his success at the next level.

If Bishop does this, he will be an enticing target for the Vikings, especially with their need at running back. Aaron Jones is the starter, who’s serviceable, but he's 31 years old. Behind him stand Jordan Mason and Demond Claiborne, who are great contributors but can’t anchor a room. Because of this, adding another option next offseason would be wise.

Plenty will change before next April, but DeSean Bishop is an ascending prospect whose quickness, power, and vision make him an intriguing day-two prospect for the Vikings.