What do football and forensics have in common? They’re both potential career paths for Vernon’s Tanner Bishop.
Bishop recently signed with the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, after being recruited by offensive line coach Carl Tolmie through Facebook.
The team flew Bishop out for the first weekend in March to meet the coaches and players and see if he would be a good fit.
“The weekend was incredible. I didn’t second guess myself. It was a great opportunity, and I took it,” said Bishop.
Tolmie, who has been with the Gee-Gees since April, 2016, saw 6-foot-2, 320-pound Bishop’s training film online and was sold.
“His agression, his size and his drive to finish each play,” are the strong qualities Tolmie saw in Bishop.
“I was beyond excitement,” said Tolmie about the day Bishop signed. “He’s strong, he’s mature and he’s a quiet leader.”
Bishop believes his strong qualities are his work ethic, his ability to learn and his consistency.
When he isn’t playing football, “My hobbies are weight lifting, eating and playing a little Xbox,” he laughs.
However, football wasn’t always on Bishop’s radar.
Coming from a hockey family, Bishop spent his formative years on the ice, but knew it wasn’t the sport for him.
He played four years of youth soccer, two years of volleyball at Ellison Elementary, and both rugby and basketball for the Fulton Secondary Maroons.
But it wasn’t until Bishop was in Grade 8, watching a senior football game with his friends, that he knew he wanted to play football.
“The whole thing just brought me in,” he said. “The whole atmosphere, I liked it, wanted to get into it, and it went from there.”
As Grade 9 started, so did then 14-year-old Bishop’s playing career.
“Just something about football, I thought I could excel in it,” he said. “Growing up I was always bigger, so I wanted to get into it. It’s been my passion ever since.”
During high school, Bishop played left tackle for three years at Fulton Secondary School before changing pace and becoming a guard, following the footsteps of his favourite player Marshal Yonda of the Baltimore Ravens.
“I think he was a kid who is pretty raw coming out, but he has good feet and will continue to grow,” said Maroons head coach Mike Scheller.
Since graduating in 2013, Bishop has been playing in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) as a guard for the Kamloops Broncos, but is excited to move up and play in U Sports football (formerly CIS).
“Now that I’m taking that step forward, it’s incredible.”
Scheller believes Bishop will succeed at the university level.
“I think it’s his work ethic,” said Scheller, noting that Bishop was able to completely change his body over the years and become all muscle.
Next year is Bishops draft year, a chance for the 22-year-old athlete to move on to play in the CFL.
“For me, to become a professional player is a dream of mine,” he said.
It’s a trait that runs in the family.
Bishop’s cousin and his sport hero Jerred Smithson, also from Vernon, played 606 games in the NHL.
“(Smithson) has shown me that hard work and dedication pays off.”
But in case the CFL doesn’t pan out, Bishop has a back up: criminology. Though, he doesn’t plan on becoming a police officer.
“I looked into it, and forensics kind of caugh my eye,” Bishop said. “If all goes to plan and I keep my grades up, I might end up in a forensics lab.”
Regardless of what happens, football will always remain a part of Bishop’s life.
“I want to play as long as I can.”