By Canadian Press

Former CFL player Michael Bishop named to U.S. College Football Hall of Fame

Jan 9, 2023 | 3:47 PM

IRVING, Texas — Former CFL quarterback Michael Bishop was named for induction into the U.S. College Football Hall of Fame on Monday.

Among those also named in the player category was Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow (Florida). Bishop and Tebow were among 10 unanimous First Team All-Americans selected, including USC running back Reggie Bush, Syracuse defensive lineman Dwight Freeney, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and Miami offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie.

The ’23 class of 18 players and four coaches will be inducted Dec. 5.

The six-foot-one, 215-pound Bishop enjoyed a stellar career at Kansas State University (1997-98). Bishop, of Galveston, Texas, compiled a 22-3 record as the starter and becomes the fourth player in school history to be named for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Bishop was a ’98 consensus First Team All-American and also claimed the Davey O’Brien Award as U.S. college football’s top quarterback. He was also named the Heisman Trophy runner-up and finalist for Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards.

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The Wildcats posted an 11-2 record and appeared in the Alamo Bowl. Kansas State finished ranked No. 10 in the final AP Poll. 

The previous season, Bishop and the Wildcats claimed a Big 12 North title. Kansas State  went 11-1, capped by a 35-18 win over Syracuse in the Fiesta Bowl, and earned a No. 8 ranking in the final AP Poll.

Bishop set 34 school and 14 Big 12 records during his collegiate career. He ran for 1,314 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing for 4,401 yards and 36 touchdowns over two seasons.

He still holds eight school marks, including single-season passing efficiency (159.6), single-season interception percentage (1.36), and single-season yards per game (299.3). Bishop was inducted into the Kansas State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016 after being added to the school’s Ring of Honor the previous year.

Bishop spent two seasons with the NFL’s New England Patriots after being selected in the seventh round, No. 227 overall, of the ’99 NFL draft. He joined the Toronto Argonauts in 2002 after being dealt by the Calgary Stampeders (which owned his CFL rights) and two years later was a member of the franchise’s Grey Cup-winning team.

Bishop spent parts of seven seasons with Toronto (2002-07, ’08) as well as time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2008) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2009). He appeared in 275 career CFL regular-season games, completing 760-of-1,492 passes (50.9 per cent) for 11,772 yards with 66 TDs and 77 interceptions.

Bishop also ran 275 times for 1,387 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Bishop, 46, is currently the head football coach at Legacy School of Sport Sciences in Spring, Texas.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2023.

The Canadian Press