DeSean Bishop Named National Running Back of the Week After Powering Past Alabama

Tennessee's ground game has carried its offense all season, and now its centerpiece has a national honor to show for it. Running back DeSean Bishop has been named the Doak Walker Award's National Running Back of the Week for his Week 7 performance in the Volunteers' 26-10 win over Alabama.

Bishop shouldered the load against the Crimson Tide, turning 32 carries into 159 yards and two touchdowns. It was the latest outing in a punishing three-week stretch that began after Tennessee's loss to Texas: 85 carries, 517 yards at 6.1 yards per attempt, and six touchdowns. Few backs in the country are being asked to do more right now, and Bishop keeps delivering.

His emergence explains how Tennessee's season has taken shape. The Volunteers average just 188 passing yards per game, the fewest in the SEC, yet they sit 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the league, firmly in the College Football Playoff picture. The defense, which leads the conference in points allowed at 14.7 per game and in sacks with 30, deserves plenty of credit, but Bishop's production is what keeps the offense moving. Tennessee is averaging 217.1 rushing yards per game, second-best in the SEC.

A fitting test comes Saturday. Tennessee travels to face South Carolina, the SEC's top rushing team at 232.3 yards per game, in a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN. If Bishop keeps running like this, the Vols' formula of defense and ground game will travel just fine.