Beanie Bishop Credits WVU Staff for Making Him Better, Never Considered Skipping Bowl

There’s always speculation about if an NFL Draft hopeful type player will play in a bowl game. Even long before the advent of the Transfer Portal, players have been sipping bowl games in an effort to preserve themselves. But Beanie Bishop never even considered not participating in the upcoming Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

Bishop, fresh off being named a consensus All-American, didn’t hesitate when asked directly if he will play in WVU’s bowl game or decide to skip it in an effort to avoid injury and hurting his NFL stock.

“Yeah, for sure. Everybody asking me that. I’m not one of those guys that’s ‘oh what if this happens?’ We play football, so at any given time you can get hurt or whatever the case may be. But I’m a competitor and I want to be able to come back and look at the Duke’s mayonnaise bowl trophy,” answered Bishop.

I asked WVU DB Beanie Bishop directly if he wants to play in the bowl game and he makes it clear he’s a competitor and fully plans to play. He wants to be part of a bowl win and see the trophy at WVU whenever he visits in the future.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 17, 2023

He then doubled down on his desire to win the game and also enjoy the experience. “You want to have fun, but the ultimate goal is to win the game. You want to bring the trophy back, and we want to see Coach Brown doused in mayonnaise,” he said with a big smile.

A big factor in Bishop’s reasoning for playing in the bowl game also stems from feeling like he owes it to the WVU coaching staff. Bishop credits the West Virginia coaches for making him a better player and putting him in a position to become an All-American.

WVU DB Beanie Bishop Becomes Consensus All-American

“It just speaks volumes. Everyone here believed in me, or I wouldn’t be here. Coach ShaDon, he coached me real hard and didn’t let me get complacent. I have dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL, and this is only part of the journey.”

Bishop even said “that would’ve been special” and joked about almost transferring to WVU two years ago and what could’ve been had he played two seasons as a Mountaineer.

Bishop recorded 59 total tackles and four interceptions during the regular season, his best statistical numbers for one season in his college career. He transferred to WVU following one season in the Big Ten with Minnesota and four at Western Kentucky.

Bishop made it clear he came to West Virginia because he believed it was the best place to help him get to where he wants to be – the NFL. And now thanks to his stellar play in 2023 and the accolades that have followed, Bishop appears to be well on his way to achieving his dream. He accepted an invite to the Shrine Bowl, an annual premiere event for NFL Draft prospect.

Watch the full Beanie Bishop press conference below.