Texas A&M’s defense faces Tennessee’s leading rusher DeSean Bishop this weekend as the No. 8 Volunteers visit College Station for the first time in ten years. Bishop has rushed for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns on 196 carries through nine games, putting Tennessee at the top of SEC rushing offenses after they displaced South Carolina last week.
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko noted that last week’s victory over South Carolina knocked the Gamecocks from the No. 1 rushing spot in the conference. “Last week, South Carolina went into the game as the No. 1 rush offense in the SEC,” Elko said. “We kind of knocked them off of that pedestal, and so now Tennessee is No. 1.” The Aggies, sitting at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the SEC this season, will have to contend with Bishop, who has been a consistent force on the ground for the Volunteers.
Bishop, a former walk-on, has improved significantly from last season when he ran for 1,076 yards in 13 games but only surpassed 100 yards in three contests. This year, he has topped 100 yards in six games, including all but one SEC matchup. His performance earned him a semifinalist spot for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the best player who began as a walk-on. “I feel like there’s a lot more left on the table for me to go accomplish this year,” Bishop said.
Tennessee’s quarterback situation has fluctuated throughout the season, adding another layer of complexity for the Aggies’ defense. True freshman Faizon Brandon, a former five-star recruit, began the season under center but was replaced by sophomore George MacIntyre in early October. Brandon made a brief return against Kentucky, running for 29 yards and throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass on an end-around flip to Mike Matthews. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said the package involving Brandon “gives defenses another thing to prepare for,” while emphasizing the importance of execution from the entire offense.
Safety Marcus Ratcliffe of Texas A&M acknowledged the challenge of preparing for two quarterbacks with distinct styles. He described MacIntyre as a strong field general and Brandon as “an amazing athlete.” Ratcliffe added, “Honestly, I'd prefer not to go against the dual threat, just because it allocates another number on defense. Especially if you can run the ball like South Carolina, it makes it really dangerous, and we have to kind of switch up how we play defense.”
Last week, the Aggies contained South Carolina’s rushing attack to 109 yards, holding the Gamecocks well below their season average. South Carolina’s dynamic quarterback LaNorris Sellers managed 41 rushing yards on his final touchdown run despite an ankle injury that limited his mobility. Alabama also struggled to run against Texas A&M, accumulating only 68 yards in their October matchup. Ratcliffe said the improvement against the run came after the team focused heavily on that aspect in meetings and practice.
Tennessee’s offense will test Texas A&M’s run defense in a critical SEC matchup. Bishop’s ability to consistently gain yardage and the unpredictable quarterback rotation pose significant challenges. Texas A&M’s preparation will have to adjust to multiple threats in what promises to be a demanding game for their defense. The Volunteers visit College Station this weekend with their rushing game leading the SEC, putting the Aggies on notice.
According to Yahoo Sports.
