KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Vols went through fall practice No. 10 on Tuesday at Haslam Field as they work through the third week of training camp.
Running Backs coach De’Rail Sims spoke with local media following practice to talk through the progress his unit has made throughout the offseason and fall.
With competition still unfolding, Sims points to last year’s experienced duo of DeSean Bishop and Peyton Lewis as foundational leaders, while veteran transfer Star Thomas has impressed with a strong camp performance.
“I think you have to look at the two returning guys from last year, Bish (DeSean Bishop) and Peyton (Lewis), and then you have to look at the rest of the room,” Sims said. There’s no really any set numbers or rotation yet, I think that’s still working itself out as we get towards game week with the competition factor in that. I think you start with the two older guys and then you look at Star (Thomas), who is another guy who has played a ton of football, that’s working his way and has had a really good camp. And then you look at the two younger guys (Daune Morris and Justin Baker) that are fighting for a role on this team and have done a really good job too.”
Sims credits the program’s recent rushing success to a blend of rhythm with the offensive line and a collective, physical mindset.
“Everybody understands that we’re going to run the football in this program, and I think that the mentality that the offensive line sets, to what the tight ends set, to what we’re setting in the running back room, that’s allowed us to be successful in the run game. And they understand that, they understand the standard and expectation of us.”
The full transcript from Sims’ press conference can be seen below.
Running Backs Coach De’Rail Sims (8.12.25)
On who has emerged or set themselves apart so far during camp…
“I think you have to look at the two returning guys from last year, Bish (DeSean Bishop) and Peyton (Lewis), and then you have to look at the rest of the room. There’s no really any set numbers or rotation yet, I think that’s still working itself out as we get towards game week with the competition factor in that. I think you start with the two older guys and then you look at Star (Thomas), who is another guy who has played a ton of football, that’s working his way and has had a really good camp. And then you look at the two younger guys (Daune Morris and Justin Baker) that are fighting for a role on this team and have done a really good job too. So, I think once we get towards game week that will work itself out.”
On how Desean Bishop has improved over the offseason..
“I think he’s taken a step in terms of leadership, number one. He’s been a dynamic guy in the room in terms of holding guys accountable. If somebody is not living up to the standard, he’s the first one to get on them, and that’s including all factors. I think from the pass protection standpoint, he’s taken the next step too. From a physicality standpoint, an eye discipline standpoint, he’s done a really good job. Running the ball is natural to him, I mean, you’re talking about a guy that was highly productive in high school and rushed for a ton of yards, so that came natural. The pass protection piece of it, he’s grown tremendously in that and done a really good job this camp.”
On what he likes from the offensive line this year…
“I like how they’re coming off the ball. They’re coming off the ball hard, they’re coming off the ball creating vertical seams in the defense for us. They’re doing a really good job playing physical and doing a really good job of playing connected and playing together. Those guys have been tenacious in terms of the way that they came off the ball for us in terms of being able to run the ball. Their attitude has been tremendous, you see a different mentality in them collectively, which has been good for us.”
On what a good problem it is to have DeSean Bishop, Peyton Lewis, and now Star Thomas…
“It’s a good problem because I think competition never lets you be complacent. We talk about it all the time, good is the enemy of great, so when you have a whole room, and it’s not just those three guys, you sit up there and look at the two freshmen that we have in Duane Morris and Justin Baker, they don’t want to take a back seat to anybody, so they’re competing their tails off as well. So, everybody in the room, including Hunter Barnes as well, you have six guys in that room that are competing their tails off to go play. So, I can’t have an off day, it can’t be one of those days that I’m not bringing my A game. I have to be an A player every single day when I have a big room in the way that we do.”
On how Star Thomas has changed through the offseason as a player…
“He’s gotten comfortable in terms of knowing the offense inside and out. He’s grown so much between the spring, over the summer until now. You can just tell how comfortable he is, and now he can be himself. He’s the guy that you’ve seen on tape be productive last year. He’s grown even more in terms of being able to run the football behind his pads, that’s the biggest deal for us too, the physicality piece of it and then in pass protection. He’s done a good job in terms of being able to identify, the physicality piece is showing a lot with him in pass protection as well, which has been awesome.”
On Star Thomas’s ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his situational use…
“No, I wouldn’t say he’s a situational guy. I think Star is a complete back. He’s not a guy that’s just going to catch the ball outside on the perimeter and be able to run. He’s a run between the tackles guy, he’s a run on the outside, he’s able to catch the ball and pass protect, so in my opinion, he’s a complete back.”
On what has led to the production of Tennessee’s run game in recent years…
“I think it’s being in a rhythm and a flow with your offensive line, number one. I think the way that we play ball allows us to have the box counts that we do, but also at the same time, it’s a mentality. Everybody understands that we’re going to run the football in this program, and I think that the mentality that the offensive line sets, to what the tight ends set, to what we’re setting in the running back room, that’s allowed us to be successful in the run game. And they understand that, they understand the standard and expectation of us. Man, in this league you have to be physical, and you have to be able to run the football. No matter how many they put in the box, we have to be able to get downhill on people and go hit them in the mouth.”
On Peyton Lewis’ offseason and what he has shown thus far in fall camp…
“We challenged him just to grow. He changed his body, you know. He looks like a Greek god when he walks out there on the field. And (we wanted him) to get comfortable. I wanted him to be Peyton like he was in high school in terms of when he was able to run behind his pads, he was able to run through the trash that was being created up front. He’s done a really good job from that standpoint. His eyes and his feet match now in the run game. His eyes and his feet match in the pass protection game, as well. You can see the maturation process, and he is playing faster. I think last year, especially him not being able to go through spring ball, when he came out of fall camp, he was still feeling his way through. There is no more of that now. He’s actually playing fast; he’s playing behind his pads. He’s doing a really good job in all three phases of the game for us right now.”
On determining the rotation at running back and splitting up drives during the game…
“Throughout the game, we go through as a staff and talk about what the rotation is going to be about. The rotation takes care of itself during the week in terms of who’s competing. ‘Who has less (missing assignments), who is doing a really good job protecting the football, protecting the quarterback, and who’s being highly productive?’ I think going by that in the game, it kind of always sorts itself out. You know, you kind of always have a plan. I know last year, (Dylan Sampson) always went in for the first two series, then (DeSean Bishop) came in the third series. I’m not necessarily saying it will be that way this year. I think it kind of works its way through. But also, you have to look at how the offense is moving when you’re in the game. That’s what I always challenge the guys with, is it being highly productive and going up another level or is it staying consistent when you’re in the game? I think by that token of it, it always works itself out.”
On Daune Morris’ weight gain and progression…
“I think you look at his body and see how much he’s changed since he got here. That’s been awesome. He takes pride in terms of putting the weight on the right way. The biggest deal with Daune is that he’s still growing. He’s natural in terms of being able to run the ball. He’s got vision, it’s like he is running blind at times, because he could feel his way through the holes which is really good. His acceleration is good. It’s always going to be pass protection for the young guys as they come in, but it’s not because he doesn’t want to, you know? That joker is physical. He’ll go in there and put his face in the fan and stop a charge. We just have to keep working on making sure his eyes are in the right spot, from a fundamental standpoint. But overall, we’re pleased with where he’s at. But he still has a ton of high, high ceiling to still continue to work to get to.”
On Peyton Lewis’ strength translating to the field…
“You see it, because you see tacklers bounce off of him. That’s the biggest deal. He’s built his body in a way to where he has the armor to where he’s able to use his body as a weapon now, which is really good. I think that has translated into confidence as well. He understands that he can drop his pads in the run game, he can drop his pads in pass protection, and he’s able to stop people in their tracks. So, I think that piece of it has been awesome for him from a confidence standpoint.”
On what has led to the production of Tennessee’s run game in recent years…
“I think it’s being in a rhythm and a flow with your offensive line, number one. I think the way that we play ball allows us to have the box counts that we do, but also at the same time, it’s a mentality. Everybody understands that we’re going to run the football in this program, and I think that the mentality that the offensive line sets, to what the tight ends set, to what we’re setting in the running back room, that’s allowed us to be successful in the run game. And they understand that, they understand the standard and expectation of us. Man, in this league you have to be physical, and you have to be able to run the football. No matter how many they put in the box, we have to be able to get downhill on people and go hit them in the mouth.”
On Peyton Lewis’ offseason and what he has shown thus far in fall camp…
“We challenged him just to grow. He changed his body, you know. He looks like a Greek god when he walks out there on the field. And (we wanted him) to get comfortable. I wanted him to be Peyton like he was in high school in terms of when he was able to run behind his pads, he was able to run through the trash that was being created up front. He’s done a really good job from that standpoint. His eyes and his feet match now in the run game. His eyes and his feet match in the pass protection game, as well. You can see the maturation process, and he is playing faster. I think last year, especially him not being able to go through spring ball, when he came out of fall camp, he was still feeling his way through. There is no more of that now. He’s actually playing fast; he’s playing behind his pads. He’s doing a really good job in all three phases of the game for us right now.”
On determining the rotation at running back and splitting up drives during the game…
“Throughout the game, we go through as a staff and talk about what the rotation is going to be about. The rotation takes care of itself during the week in terms of who’s competing. ‘Who has less (missing assignments), who is doing a really good job protecting the football, protecting the quarterback, and who’s being highly productive?’ I think going by that in the game, it kind of always sorts itself out. You know, you kind of always have a plan. I know last year, (Dylan Sampson) always went in for the first two series, then (DeSean Bishop) came in the third series. I’m not necessarily saying it will be that way this year. I think it kind of works its way through. But also, you have to look at how the offense is moving when you’re in the game. That’s what I always challenge the guys with, is it being highly productive and going up another level or is it staying consistent when you’re in the game? I think by that token of it, it always works itself out.”
On Daune Morris weight gain and progression…
“I think you look at his body and see how much he’s changed since he got here. That’s been awesome. He takes pride in terms of putting the weight on the right way. The biggest deal with Daune is that he’s still growing. He’s natural in terms of being able to run the ball. He’s got vision, it’s like he is running blind at times, because he could feel his way through the holes which is really good. His acceleration is good. It’s always going to be pass protection for the young guys as they come in, but it’s not because he doesn’t want to, you know? That joker is physical. He’ll go in there and put his face in the fan and stop a charge. We just have to keep working on making sure his eyes are in the right spot, from a fundamental standpoint. But overall, we’re pleased with where he’s at. But he still has a ton of high, high ceiling to still continue to work to get to.”
On Peyton Lewis’ strength translating to the field…
“You see it, because you see tacklers bounce off of him. That’s the biggest deal. He’s built his body in a way to where he has the armor to where he’s able to use his body as a weapon now, which is really good. I think that has translated into confidence as well. He understands that he can drop his pads in the run game, he can drop his pads in pass protection, and he’s able to stop people in their tracks. So, I think that piece of it has been awesome for him from a confidence standpoint.”
