Bishop, a former walk-on, is motivated by doubters and aims to prove himself after earning a scholarship.

Bishop, a former walk-on, is motivated by doubters and aims to prove himself after earning a scholarship.

DeSean Bishop knows he’s probably not the easiest person to get along with sometimes.

The running back takes his role on the leadership council for Tennessee football seriously going into his third year with the Vols. The redshirt sophomore sees accountability as a central part of his role, even if it’s not pleasant.

Bishop sets the standard high and “can be kind of a tough guy to deal with sometimes,” but he wants the best for everyone on the team. He knows pushing his teammates to be better will make him better, too.

“I feel like I know what it takes. I’ve been through the fire,” Bishop said on July 29. “I push guys to be better, even when they don’t want to be pushed. However they may take that can be a little bit interesting, but I just love motivating people, love loving on people, and I know that they know it’s coming from a good place.”Bishop is a fitting leader for the Vols, which looks a lot different from last year’s College Football Playoff team after quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s exit in the spring. Tennessee was picked to finish ninth in the SEC. But Bishop still thrives off being the underdog.

Remembering there are still people doubting him is what gets him out of bed when he doesn’t want to. It motivates him to never get complacent.