The Tennessee Vols preseason All-SEC team recognition for five players underscores the program’s returning core as it prepares for the 2026 campaign.
Reporting from AOL.com lists DeSean Bishop, Wendell Moe Jr. David Sanders Jr. Arion Carter and Ty Redmond among the league’s preseason choices, a grouping that blends proven production and high-upside youth.
Key Takeaways
- Five Tennessee players were named to the 2026 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team, reflecting strong returning production across offense and defense.
- DeSean Bishop returns after a 2025 season that included 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and a team-high 1,211 all-purpose yards.
- Wendell Moe Jr. arrived as an impact transfer with over 2,400 career snaps, national preseason honors and placement on the Outland Trophy watch list.
- Arion Carter and Ty Redmond anchor the defense after SEC-leading and team-leading performances in 2025 that project into 2026 roles.
Why DeSean Bishop matters to the Tennessee offense
DeSean Bishop’s elevation from former walk-on to Second-Team All-SEC running back in 2025 gives Tennessee a clear offensive identity heading into 2026.
Bishop carried 182 times for 1,076 yards and 16 rushing touchdowns last season, and he finished with a team-high 1,211 all-purpose yards and a 93.2-yard per game average.
That 1,000-yard return makes him the first Vol to come back as a returning 1,000-yard rusher since Jalen Hurd, which stabilizes the offense and shapes how the Vols deploy personnel and game plans.
O line outlook with Wendell Moe Jr and David Sanders Jr
Wendell Moe Jr.’s arrival as an Arizona transfer and his First-Team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press set high expectations for Tennessee’s tackle room.
Moe Jr. has logged more than 2,400 career snaps and is credited with allowing two sacks, and he enters his final collegiate season with Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team honors and a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list.
Alongside him, David Sanders Jr. offers continuity after a strong freshman campaign; Sanders appeared in nine games with six starts at right tackle, totaled 480 offensive snaps and did not allow a sack in eight contests.
Secondary and linebacker impact with Arion Carter and Ty Redmond
Arion Carter returns for his senior season after leading the SEC in tackles per game in 2025 and producing plays behind the line of scrimmage across ten appearances.
Carter’s 2025 stat line included six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, signaling a disruptive presence the Vols will lean on.
Ty Redmond, a freshman All-American and Third-Team All-SEC selection, started Tennessee’s final 12 games and led the SEC with 15 passes defended and 12 pass breakups while recording three interceptions.
Tennessee Vols preseason All-SEC team facts table
| Player | 2025 highlights | 2026 preseason honors |
|---|---|---|
| DeSean Bishop | 1,076 rushing yards, 16 TDs on 182 attempts; 15 receptions for 135 yards; team-high 1,211 all-purpose yards | Third-Team All-SEC offense preseason selection |
| Wendell Moe Jr. | First-Team All-SEC (AP) after starting 11 games; more than 2,400 career snaps and two sacks allowed | Third-Team All-SEC offense preseason selection; Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team; Outland Trophy watch list |
| David Sanders Jr. | Freshman All-America; appeared in nine games with six starts at right tackle and 480 offensive snaps; no sacks allowed in eight contests | Third-Team All-SEC offense preseason selection |
| Arion Carter | Led the SEC in tackles per game in 2025; totaled six TFL, 1.5 sacks, two PBUs, two hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery | Third-Team All-SEC defense preseason selection |
| Ty Redmond | Freshman All-America; started final 12 games; led the SEC with 15 passes defended and 12 PBUs with three interceptions | Third-Team All-SEC defense preseason selection |
SEC and CFP implications for Tennessee roster
Having five players named to the preseason All-SEC team positions Tennessee as a program returning significant playmakers at critical spots, which matters in a conference where depth and proven production often decide tight divisional races.
Offensive stability behind Bishop and a veteran tackle in Moe Jr. should help Tennessee sustain a physical identity and protect quarterback development, while young contributors like Sanders Jr. and Redmond indicate a high ceiling for growth without heavy roster churn.
On defense, Carter’s tackling reliability and Redmond’s coverage production offer a base from which Tennessee can scheme against SEC skill-position attacks, and those returning pieces strengthen the Volunteers’ case in early College Football Playoff conversation if the team posts a strong start.
