Desmond Bishop’s father, Dennis Bishop, was a defensive back at the University of Illinois before playing professionally in the USFL. Desmond was a linebacker at Fairfield High School in Fairfield, California. He earned second-team all-state honors as a senior and was selected to play in the California North-South Shrine game. Desmond originally signed with the University of Nevada before he ended up playing at San Francisco Community College. He helped the team to a 13-0 record and a national championship in 2003. He totaled 118 tackles the following season and was named conference defensive MVP and California junior college defensive player of the year. He was considered to be one of the top 5 junior college players in the nation and he received a scholarship offer from the University of California. He played in all 12 games for Cal as a junior, leading the team in tackles with 89 stops on the year. He also had a forced fumble and two pass break-ups on the season. He was named second team all-PAC Ten at the conclusion of his first season at Cal.

Desmond Bishop has been the starting middle linebacker at Cal for the past two seasons after transferring from San Francisco Community College. He has proven to be a good leader both on and off the field. He has a good combination of size and strength for a linebacker. He has good instincts and is quick to read and react to what the offense is doing. He makes plays all over the field and always seems to be around the football. His strength allows him to effectively take on blocks of opposing offensive linemen. He is a great run defender who makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. Bishop has only been playing division I football for two seasons and he is still a bit raw. He lacks ideal speed and athleticism and can be a liability in coverage. He may be limited to being a two-down run stuffing linebacker at the professional level. Desmond Bishop could be a valuable player for a team that needs to improve its run defense. His lack of experience and coverage ability will hurt him, but he does have a chance to be a late first or early second day pick in the 2007 NFL draft.