JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Howland's Bishoff playing large at Denison
GRANVILLE -- Brian Bishoff is proof that you don't have to be physically big to play collegiate football.
But he also is proof that a smaller player has to use wisely whatever talents he has and can develop to compensate for a lack of size.
Bishoff, a graduate of Howland High, is one of the smallest players on the Denison College football team and in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
But the 5-foot-6, 165-pound senior cornerback, who played for coach Dick Angle at Howland, has been a four-year starter for the Big Red, his first two years as a wide receiver and the next two at cornerback. And he also is using leadership skills as a team captain.
Bishoff said he believes that size is not as important a factor in success as are self-confidence and the capacity to learn and adjust.
"I would say it's confidence," said Bishoff, the shortest player and tied for fourth-lightest on the team. "It is being confident in abilities and using whatever physical attributes you have to your advantage."
One of only a few
He said he hasn't seen too many other players in the NCAC as small as he is.
"Once or twice [I have[, but not too many times on the field, but a few times on the sidelines," said Bishoff, who helped Denison to a 1-1 record entering Saturday's game at Gettysburg. "I haven't gone up against too many [smaller players] on the field."
He admitted that defending against usually-taller receivers and bigger ball carriers does present a challenge, so he has had to adjust.
"As far as pass coverage, I have to alter my tackling methods when [ball carriers and receivers] get into the open. Instead of hitting them [with my body], I try to throw my body around their legs," Bishoff said. "I try to get as low as possible, which is not hard because receivers area lot taller."
He compensates for not being tall by maneuvering into position to spring high against oncoming passes, like in basketball.
"The receivers usually have me by a couple of inches." But, "I have a decent vertical leap and it is all about body position, compensating for any physical disadvantages by getting good position."
Switched positions
He said he was switched from offense to defense as a junior to fill team needs.
"Coming out of high school, I was recruited a lot to play defensive back, but we had upperclassmen on defense [at Denison] and not a lot of kids stepped up in camp ,so I did better on offense," Bishoff said.
"But last year, we lost good depth in the secondary and I was switched to cornerback and I went into camp No. 1 on the depth chart and the I won the No. 1 spot."
Bishoff said he and the team have been playing well.
"The first two games I did well. I'm tied for third on the team in tackles [11, six solo stops and five assists] and I had an interception in week one against Waynesburg. Our secondary has been playing pretty well," he said.
Likes geographical diversity
Bishoff enjoys the players on his team and also the geographical diversity of his friends and students in general at Denison.
"I looked at a lot of Division III schools throughout Ohio but the thing I like the best about Denison is the chemistry [of the players] on the team," said Bishoff, noting that he has made friends with students from Ohio, Colorado, New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, Florida and Massachusetts.
"I have a group of friends that is a mix of kids from different backgrounds, and to see us evolve into a cohesive unit is satisfying. And the schools in the NCAC are all the same [like this]."
He said it is a new and enjoyable experience for him.
"Coming out of Howland, I never would have envisioned myself on a team with kids from all over the country and playing and living with them. It has been quite an experience," said Bishoff.
The son of David and Ann Bishoff, Brian also is a good student with a 3.23 grade-point average as a major in economics and minor in communications, and plans to graduate in May.
Bishoff interned at the investment firm Morgan Stanley in Columbus this past summer, and would like to enter the investment field after graduation.
kovach@vindy.com