ANG Newspapers: Linebacker has impact in short time

Scout sees NFL potential in JC transfer Desmond Bishop

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — The old scout has sized up football prospects for better than a half-century, thus he can recognize potential almost instantly.  And the potential of something special leaped in front of his eyes the first time he saw Desmond Bishop, Cal's new middle linebacker.  "The thing I saw is the quickness he used to attack the ball," the NFL scout said Monday. "It wasn't like he was making tackles on the sideline. He was in the backfield getting to guys before they even made their cuts. He is going to be one heck of a'backer."  The scout stated what he looks for in a top linebacker.  "They have to avoid being blocked, and — the key — read the play and get to the ball," he said. "Bishop has gotten (these qualities) sooner than most."  The scout believes the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Bishop, a junior transfer from City College of San Francisco, has NFL ability. And that evaluation came after seeing him play one time.  Bishop has played three games for Cal, and led the team in tackles each game, for a total of 25. Coach Jeff Tedford feels the same way as the old scout about the promising Fairfield product.  "He can be a big-time player," Tedford said Monday. "He has great instincts, and he's very quick to the ball. He has a lot of confidence in his closing ability, so he's able to zero in on people.  "He's not a guy who lays back and gets juked by people. He's very aggressive going to the ball and he runs through people. He's a physical guy who can run; he covers the field. He's a pretty gifted guy."  Tedford was able to recruit Bishop away from USC, Oklahoma and Florida. Bishop said Monday he had a "vision of Cal being one of the premier dominating schools (in football). The academics here are high quality, and with coach Tedford, we're like a family."  Bishop discussed his uncanny ability to see plays unfold and then strike quickly.  "It's like a gift," he said. "I heard somebody say to be a downhill player. So when the ball is snapped, that's my thought process, to get downhill before the play develops, before runners get started."  When a play begins, Bishop's eyes are trained on the tight end and tackle, plus the backfield, looking for a "flow" of movement that tells him which way the ball is going. Then — whoosh! — he gets there fast.

Bishop admires three linebackers — Ray Lewis, LaVar Arrington and Brian Urlacher — and tries to mimic their styles.  "All the stars are lined up for me," he said of his rather easy transition from junior college to the Pac-10. "I love competition, and I want to be considered one of the best players, to make all the plays."  Unlike another Cal JC transfer, Aaron Rodgers, Bishop said he plans to stick around for his senior year.

BEAR TRACKS: Cornerback Tim Mixon, who scored on a 79-yard punt return against Illinois, is the Pac-10 special teams player of the week. ... Tailback Marshawn Lynch (broken/dislocated finger) suited up Monday, but only took part in conditioning drills with a cast still covering his left hand. Tedford said he'll decide Thursday on Lynch's status for Friday night's game at New Mexico State. Tedford said the same thing applies to offensive linemen Aaron Merz and Andrew Cameron (mild concussions), and linebacker Greg Van Hoesen (sprained ankle). ... Defensive end Tosh Lupoi (sprained knee) won't play. ... Tom Schneider replaced kickoff man David Lonie late in the Illinois game, but Tedford said Lonie will regain his job if he kicks well this week.