University of Tennessee Athletics
November 10, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee was represented on both sides of the ball as the Maxwell Football Club released its semifinalists for the 2026 Maxwell and Bednarik Awards on Tuesday.
DeSean Bishop is one of just three running backs among the 18 semifinalists for the 90th Maxwell Award, while Xavier Gilliam is also one of 18 semifinalists up for the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award.
Bishop is the third UT player in the Josh Heupel era and fifth in program history to earn semifinalist status from the Maxwell Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate player. The Vols' other semifinalists include Dylan Sampson (2024), Jalin Hyatt (2022), Hendon Hooker (2022) and Peyton Manning (1997), who is the only Tennessee player to ever win the award.
After rushing for 109 yards in last week's win over No. 6 Kentucky, Bishop became just the second player in program history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, joining Johnnie Jones, who did so in 1983 and 1984.
The senior running back and former walk-on is one of just four players in the FBS this season with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Bishop has found the end zone in 12 of his last 13 games dating back to last season and his 13 rushing scores rank second in the SEC and tied for seventh nationally.
The Knoxville native has six 100-plus yard rushing performances this year, including five straight entering this Saturday's road showdown at Texas A&M. Bishop also ranks second in the conference and 10th in the nation with 1,066 rushing yards on the year, including an FBS-leading 661 of those yards in the second half of games.
Gilliam is the second Vol to become a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award under Heupel, and the fifth in program history, joining James Pearce Jr. (2024), Derek Barnett (2016), Eric Berry (2008) and Kevin Burnett (2004).
The junior defensive lineman is enjoying a breakout season in which he has emerged as one of the country's premier defensive players, ranking among the SEC and national leaders in tackles for loss and pressures.
Entering this weekend's contest against the Aggies, Gilliam leads all SEC interior defensive linemen with 31 pressures this season. He also ranks third in the league and tied for 15th in the FBS with 11.5 tackles for loss.
The Maryland native also has six sacks on the year, which is tied for fifth in the SEC and has 11 quarterback hurries to go along with two forced fumbles.\
Three finalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be unveiled on Nov. 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award and 32nd Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11, 2026.
The full list of semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are listed below.
QB Noah Fifita, Arizona, Senior
RB Dylan Riley, Boise State, Junior
RB Nate Sheppard, Duke, Sophomore
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Senior
QB Conner Weigman, Houston, Senior
WR Charlie Becker, Indiana, Junior
QB Darian Mensah, Miami, Junior
WR Malachi Toney, Miami, Sophomore
QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Junior
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Junior
QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, Sophomore
QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Senior
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Junior
RB DeSean Bishop, Tennessee, Junior
QB Jayden Maiava, USC, Senior
QB Devon Dampier, Utah, Senior
QB Gio Lopez, Wake Forest, Junior
DB Kingston Lopa, Cal, Sophomore
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson, Junior
LB Gideon Lampron, Colorado, Senior
DB KJ Bolden, Georgia, Junior
LB Chris Cole, Georgia, Junior
DL Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana, Senior
LB Cam Buffington, Iowa, Junior
DE Princewill Umanmielen, LSU, Senior
CB Kelley Jones, Mississippi State, Senior
DT Xavier Lewis, North Carolina, Sophomore
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, Junior
DL Xavier Gilliam, Tennessee, Junior
EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas, Junior
DL AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, Senior
LB Sammy Omosigho, UCLA, Senior
LB Mason Posa, Wisconsin, Sophomore
LB Cooper Catalano, Wisconsin, Sophomore
Heisman Trophy Candidate
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First Team All-American (The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News)
Sr. LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Semifinalist
William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist
NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Semifinalist
Jr. DL Xavier Gilliam
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First-Team All-American (AP, The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
DeSean Bishop is one of just three running backs among the 18 semifinalists for the 90th Maxwell Award, while Xavier Gilliam is also one of 18 semifinalists up for the 32nd Chuck Bednarik Award.
Bishop is the third UT player in the Josh Heupel era and fifth in program history to earn semifinalist status from the Maxwell Award, presented to the nation's top collegiate player. The Vols' other semifinalists include Dylan Sampson (2024), Jalin Hyatt (2022), Hendon Hooker (2022) and Peyton Manning (1997), who is the only Tennessee player to ever win the award.
After rushing for 109 yards in last week's win over No. 6 Kentucky, Bishop became just the second player in program history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, joining Johnnie Jones, who did so in 1983 and 1984.
The senior running back and former walk-on is one of just four players in the FBS this season with at least 1,000 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. Bishop has found the end zone in 12 of his last 13 games dating back to last season and his 13 rushing scores rank second in the SEC and tied for seventh nationally.
The Knoxville native has six 100-plus yard rushing performances this year, including five straight entering this Saturday's road showdown at Texas A&M. Bishop also ranks second in the conference and 10th in the nation with 1,066 rushing yards on the year, including an FBS-leading 661 of those yards in the second half of games.
Gilliam is the second Vol to become a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award under Heupel, and the fifth in program history, joining James Pearce Jr. (2024), Derek Barnett (2016), Eric Berry (2008) and Kevin Burnett (2004).
The junior defensive lineman is enjoying a breakout season in which he has emerged as one of the country's premier defensive players, ranking among the SEC and national leaders in tackles for loss and pressures.
Entering this weekend's contest against the Aggies, Gilliam leads all SEC interior defensive linemen with 31 pressures this season. He also ranks third in the league and tied for 15th in the FBS with 11.5 tackles for loss.
The Maryland native also has six sacks on the year, which is tied for fifth in the SEC and has 11 quarterback hurries to go along with two forced fumbles.\
Three finalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be unveiled on Nov. 24, 2026. The winner of the 90th Maxwell Award and 32nd Bednarik Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 11, 2026.
The full list of semifinalists for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are listed below.
2026 Maxwell Award Semifinalists
QB Keelon Russell, Alabama, SophomoreQB Noah Fifita, Arizona, Senior
RB Dylan Riley, Boise State, Junior
RB Nate Sheppard, Duke, Sophomore
QB Gunner Stockton, Georgia, Senior
QB Conner Weigman, Houston, Senior
WR Charlie Becker, Indiana, Junior
QB Darian Mensah, Miami, Junior
WR Malachi Toney, Miami, Sophomore
QB CJ Carr, Notre Dame, Junior
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, Junior
QB Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State, Sophomore
QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, Senior
QB LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, Junior
RB DeSean Bishop, Tennessee, Junior
QB Jayden Maiava, USC, Senior
QB Devon Dampier, Utah, Senior
QB Gio Lopez, Wake Forest, Junior
2026 Bednarik Award Semifinalists
LB Luke Metz, Alabama, SophomoreDB Kingston Lopa, Cal, Sophomore
CB Ashton Hampton, Clemson, Junior
LB Gideon Lampron, Colorado, Senior
DB KJ Bolden, Georgia, Junior
LB Chris Cole, Georgia, Junior
DL Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana, Senior
LB Cam Buffington, Iowa, Junior
DE Princewill Umanmielen, LSU, Senior
CB Kelley Jones, Mississippi State, Senior
DT Xavier Lewis, North Carolina, Sophomore
CB Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, Junior
DL Xavier Gilliam, Tennessee, Junior
EDGE Colin Simmons, Texas, Junior
DL AJ Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, Senior
LB Sammy Omosigho, UCLA, Senior
LB Mason Posa, Wisconsin, Sophomore
LB Cooper Catalano, Wisconsin, Sophomore
Tennessee Football – 2026 Honor Roll
Sr. RB DeSean BishopHeisman Trophy Candidate
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First Team All-American (The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News)
Sr. LB Arion Carter
Butkus Award Semifinalist
William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist
NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Semifinalist
Jr. DL Xavier Gilliam
Bednarik Award Semifinalist
Lombardi Award Semifinalist
2026 Midseason First-Team All-American (AP, The Athletic, CBS Sports, On3, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated)
Players Mentioned
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