BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee had four players named to the 2026 Preseason All-SEC teams by the media, which were announced by the conference on Friday following the conclusion of SEC Media Days in Tampa.
The Volunteers had three offensive players tabbed as third-team selections, led by running back DeSean Bishop. The offensive line pairing of Wendell Moe Jr. and David Sanders Jr. joined Bishop on the third team.
Veteran linebacker Arion Carter was UT’s lone representative on the defensive side of the ball, earning third team recognition, as well.
Bishop is back for his redshirt junior season after earning All-SEC second-team honors last season. The Knoxville native is Tennessee’s first returning 1,000-yard rusher since Jalen Hurd in 2016 after finishing the 2025 season ranked fourth in the SEC in total rushing yards (1,076) and fifth in rushing yards per game (82.8).
In his first year as a starter, Bishop also compiled 16 rushing touchdowns, which was tied for the second most in the league and sixth in the FBS. The former walk-on was also a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy in 2025.
Moe Jr. enters his second year on Rocky Top and his final collegiate season in 2026 after earning All-SEC first team accolades from the Associated Press in 2025. The imposing offensive guard started 11 games and allowed just one sack in 689 offensive snaps played last year to help anchor the offensive line of the No. 7 ranked offense in college football. The California native has also been tabbed a Walter Camp Preseason All-American entering this season.
Sanders Jr. also returns for his second season in the Orange and White after garnering SEC All-Freshman team recognition and multiple Freshman All-America honors during his rookie campaign in 2025.
After missing the start of the year with an injury, the blue-chip recruit started nine games with six starts as a true freshman at right tackle and did not allow a sack in eight of nine contests he played in. Sanders Jr. is expected to start at left tackle for the Vols this season.
After withdrawing his name from the 2026 NFL Draft in January, Carter returns for his senior season after leading the SEC in tackles per game (7.6) despite battling a foot injury for a large part of last year.
One of the most experienced linebackers in the conference, Carter has played in 31 games and made 22 starts during his time at UT. The Smyrna, Tennessee, native, filled up the stat sheet last season, totaling a career-high 76 tackles to go along with six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The full Media Days Preseason All-SEC teams can be seen below. The Vols open their 2026 campaign at home on Sept. 5 against Furman.
2026 PRESEASON MEDIA DAYS ALL-SEC TEAMS
OFFENSE
First-Team
Quarterback
Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Running Back
Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss
Ahmad Hardy, Missouri
Wide Receiver
Cam Coleman, Texas
Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama
Tight End
Trey’Dez Green, LSU
Offensive Guard/Tackle
Trevor Goosby, Texas
Cayden Green, Missouri
Jordan Seaton, LSU
Earnest Greene III, Georgia
Center
Drew Bobo, Georgia
All-Purpose
Mario Craver, Texas A&M
Second-Team
Quarterback
Arch Manning, Texas
Running Back
Jadan Baugh, Florida
Nate Frazier, Georgia
Wide Receiver
Mario Craver, Texas A&M
Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Tight End
Lawson Luckie, Georgia
Offensive Guard/Tackle
Dontrell Glover, Georgia
Michael Fasusi, Oklahoma
Michael Carroll, Alabama
Lance Heard, Kentucky
Center
Mark Nabou Jr., Texas A&M
All-Purpose
Ryan Niblett, Texas
Third-Team
Quarterback
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
Running Back
DeSean Bishop, Tennessee
Hollywood Smothers, Texas
Wide Receiver
Ryan Wingo, Texas
Nyck Harbor, South Carolina
Tight End
Willie Rodriguez, Kentucky
Offensive Guard/Tackle
David Sanders Jr., Tennessee
Patrick Kutas, Ole Miss
Brandon Baker, Texas
Wendell Moe Jr., Tennessee
Center
Braelin Moore, LSU
All-Purpose
Jadan Baugh, Florida
DEFENSE
First-Team
Defensive Line
Colin Simmons, Texas
Will Echoles, Ole Miss
Dylan Stewart, South Carolina
Princewill Umanmielen, LSU
Linebacker
Whit Weeks, LSU
Xavier Atkins, Auburn
Rasheem Biles, Texas
Defensive Back
KJ Bolden, Georgia
Zabien Brown, Alabama
Bray Hubbard, Alabama
Ellis Robinson IV, Georgia
Second-Team
Defensive Line
David Stone, Oklahoma
Elijah Griffin, Georgia
Taylor Wein, Oklahoma
Quincy Rhodes Jr., Arkansas
Linebacker
Raylen Wilson, Georgia
Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
Kip Lewis, Oklahoma
Defensive Back
Kelley Jones, Mississippi State
DJ Pickett, LSU
Ty Benefield, LSU
Eli Bowen, Oklahoma *
Peyton Bowen, Oklahoma *
Third-Team
Defensive Line
Kam Franklin, Ole Miss
DJ Hicks, Texas A&M
Gabe Harris, Georgia
Jayden Woods, Florida
Linebacker
Arion Carter, Tennessee
TJ Dottery, LSU
Yhonzae Pierre, Alabama
Defensive Back
Keon Sabb, Alabama
Champ Anthony, Auburn
Khalil Barnes, Georgia
Jelani McDonald, Texas
SPECIALISTS
First-Team
Placekicker
Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Punter
Grant Chadwick, LSU
Return Specialist
Ryan Niblett, Texas
Kickoff Specialist
Tate Sandell, Oklahoma
Long Snapper
Ben Anderson, Oklahoma
Second-Team
Placekicker
Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss
Punter
Grayson Miller, Oklahoma
Return Specialist
Isaiah Sategna III, Oklahoma
Kickoff Specialist
Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss
Long Snapper
Trey Dubuc, Texas
Third-Team
Placekicker
Alex McPherson, Auburn
Punter
Ethan Pulliam, Mississippi State
Return Specialist
Vernell Brown III, Florida
Kickoff Specialist
Terry Bussey, Texas A&M
Long Snapper
Brett Le Blanc, Missouri
