WVU DB Beanie Bishop Plans to End College Career with Big Season

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The 2023 season is the last chance for Beanie Bishop to truly show what he can do against high level competition in college. After spending a season he classifies as a disappointment in Minnesota, Bishop now hopes his time at WVU will be mutually beneficial for him and the Mountaineers.

Bishop opened up about his journey, the origins of his real name and why he feels he made the right decision to finish out his college career in West Virginia during his first full media session since arriving in Morgantown.

“The Big 12 is more of a passing league and I wanted to be able to showcase my ability on defense and in the return game,” Beanie, born Shannon Bishop Jr. and blessed with a nickname by his mother that honors the Beanie Baby toy, said about why he transferred to WVU.

Bishop has high expectations for the upcoming season, especially because he knows he can make plays at the level of an elite corner if given the opportunity. After excelling at Western Kentucky, Bishop thought he was going to finally get that chance last year in the Big Ten, but says he didn’t end up actually being put in a position to find major success as a Golden Gopher.

Asti: Transfer DB Beanie Bishop Will Boost WVU Football in Multiple Ways

What Bishop means is he’s searching for ways to get his hands on the ball and turn the tide of a game. “We want to lead the country in takeaways,” Bishop said about how his personal goals and West Virginia’s plans for the overall defense are united. The Mountaineers finished towards the bottom of the conference in forcing turnovers and have been trying improve that issue all offseason.

WVU DB Beanie Bishop says the Mountaineers want to lead the country in takeaways.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) August 15, 2023

But it’s not just about being a ball hawk for the secondary for Bishop. “To be able to bring some of that defensively physicality to that side. Being able to help in anyway I can is important. Interception, fumble recovery, kick or punt return, anyway that I can show I’m valuable with the ball in my hand,” said Bishop.

He’s currently in a competition with wide receiver Ja’Shaun Poke for the role as the lead returner, a role he was not afforded at Minnesota.

Bishop has made it known he plans to be an impact player and close out his college career with a bang. This is something that the West Virginia coaching staff expects from him as well, so much so that co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach ShaDon Brown called Bishop an “alpha” just last week.