Tennessee won’t be leaning on No. 6 anymore.
There’s been plenty of turnover on the Tennessee roster this offseason, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. The Volunteers will rotate in four new starters up front on the offensive line, welcome a handful of new contributors at wide receiver and replace Nico Iamaleava under center.
The quarterback saga certainly has overshadowed the rest of the roster turnover, particularly at running back. Tennessee is set to replace Dylan Sampson, who at times seemed like the entire offense in 2024. Sampson’s record-smashing junior season propelled him to becoming a fourth-round pick in April’s NFL Draft, leaving a massive void on Tennessee’s roster and stat sheet going into the fall.
Who will replace Sampson in the backfield in 2025? It’s very likely we see a return to a true platoon-based attack, just as Josh Heupel deployed from 2021-2023.
Peyton Lewis
Sophomore
6-1, 212
2024 stats: 64 carries, 339 yards, 3 touchdowns
The former four-star running back prospect becomes the most athletically gifted player in the Tennessee backfield. Lewis saw an uptick in playing time last season as Sampson’s list of injuries began piling up, so he enters 2025 with some legitimate experience. Lewis ended up with ten carries for 77 yards in Tennessee’s College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State.
A former track and field star in high school in Virginia, Heupel would love to get him in the open field and see that elite speed put to use. We didn’t get to see a ton of Lewis in the open field last season, but that should change this fall. Lewis could be the next in line to really pop in Heupel’s spread-tempo attack.
Lewis generated plenty of buzz this spring, earning praise from the staff for his development.
“Peyton has had a great spring,” Heupel said. “He has a lot more comfort and understanding in the scope of what we’re doing and it should be that way in year two. He grew throughout the course of last year too, but he’s done a really, really good job. That’s with the ball in his hands, but that’s also playing without the ball.”
DeSean Bishop
Redshirt Sophomore
5-10, 208
2024 stats: 74 carries, 455 yards, 3 touchdowns
The decorated former local prospect was a late add to the class of 2023, and all he’s done since then is overachieve. Bishop worked his way up to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart early last season, handling action in big spots to spell Sampson. He ended up with 16 carries in the Vols’ grind-it-out win at Oklahoma early in the year.
An injury slowed his season down and ended up opening the door for Lewis to eat into his role a bit. You got a preview of what you can expect to see this season in Columbus, with Bishop handing seven carries to Lewis’ ten.
Remember in ‘22/’23 where Heupel used Jaylen Wright, Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson? Tennessee definitely appears ready to recreate that.
Star Thomas
6-0, 211
Senior
2024 stats (Duke): 213 carries, 871 yards, 7 touchdowns (20 receptions, 153 yards)
2023 stats (NMST): 112 carries, 653 yards, 4 touchdowns (22 receptions, 200 yards)
Thomas joins the Tennessee roster from Duke, forming a potential three-headed attack in the backfield. The senior back has a ton of experience, handling 100 carries in each of his first three seasons. Thomas gutted out 4.1 yards per carry in Duke’s struggling rush offense and will be hoping to find more space to operate with in Knoxville.
This will actually be his sixth season of college football after winning a ruling with the NCAA. Thomas started his career in the JUCO ranks, then played two seasons at New Mexico State before landing at Duke. He’ll now provide some much-needed depth and experience for Tennessee as the staff brings along a handful of young backs.
Thomas did arrive in Knoxville ahead of spring practice, so he should be up to speed and ready to go for the fall.
Class of 2025: Daune Morris and Justin Baker
Morris: 5-10, 192 (three-star)
Baker: 5-10, 210 (three-star)
It’s going to be interesting to see if either of these guys can see the field in their first season with the program. Tennessee’s shallow depth chart could end up forcing the staff’s hand with any sort of injury situation. Remember, Khalifa Keith (App State) and Cam Seldon (Virginia Tech) also exited the program via transfer portal. That really highlights the importance of the Star Thomas addition.
Both freshmen went through spring practices and got their feet wet in the offense. Justin Baker turned heads with his very un-freshman-like frame. Morris, a dynamic athlete from the mid-state that Tennessee was able to flip from USC, offers a different style with homerun capabilities.
Both backs will continue to come along in the offense this fall as De’Rail Sims continues to build out the depth at the position.
Tennessee once again ranked inside the top ten nationally in rushing offense. With new faces leading the way — both in the backfield, up front and under center — can they do it again?