Chayce Bishop set for Tennessee return

Tennessee-Ball State: Chayce Bishop set for Tennessee return

Tennessee will kick off its 2022 season Thursday versus Ball State at Neyland Stadium under second-year head coach Josh Heupel.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. EDT between the Vols and Cardinals. SEC Network will televise the season-opening matchup.

The contest is the first meeting between Tennessee and Ball State.

Former Vol Chayce Bishop is a redshirt freshman cornerback for Ball State. He transferred from Tennessee on May 12, 2021.

Bishop redshirted during the Vols’ 2020 season. He did not appear in any games for Ball State in 2021.

The former Vol is the son of Blaine Bishop, an all-conference safety at Ball State and a three-time All-Pro with the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans.

Ball State releases depth chart ahead of Tennessee game

Tennessee releases depth chart ahead of Ball State game

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Vols add surprise 2020 commitment in Nashville wide receiver Chayce Bishop

Tennessee adds surprise 2020 commitment in Nashville WR Chayce Bishop.

Tennessee secured an in-state commitment from 3-star wide receiver Chayce Bishop out of Independence High School.

Bishop is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect rated as a 3-star and the No. 35 overall player in the state of Tennessee for his class on the 247Sports Composite. Although he is listed as an athlete, Bishop has mostly played wide receiver in his high school career which began at Brentwood before he transferred to Independence.

A speedy, shifty receiver with big play ability, Bishop caught 38 passes for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019 for Independence, and was named to the All-Region 6-6A first team. Throughout his prep career, Bishop has been deployed as a versatile wideout who can catch the ball in space on screen passes and make defenders miss, or act as a deep threat with his speed.

Bishop’s late commitment comes as a bit of a surprise, as Tennessee did not appear to be on his radar much throughout the recruiting process. Michigan, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and others had offered Bishop.

The 2020 product is the son of Blaine Bishop, a former Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl safety who now resides in Nashville and is a co-host on the “Wake Up Zone”, on 104.5 The Zone, a Vol Network radio station.

Tennessee’s 2020 recruiting class — which finished at No. 10 in the 247Sports Composite – is strong at wide receiver, and Bishop is the fourth addition to that position group. Nebraska transfer Miles Jones and USC transfer Velus Jones Jr. are also adding wide receiver depth in 2020.