A Minnesota walk-on defensive back has earned a scholarship.

This week, head coach P.J. Fleck announced that Bishop McDonald has earned a scholarship for his “ELITE work” and a “Nekton Mentality” while with the program. He has been with the Golden Gophers for the past three seasons, originally starting his college football career at Minnesota-Duluth.

Fleck and the Minnesota football program released a video to make the announcement about McDonald’s scholarship. The 2020 season was his senior year, but because of the NCAA’s blanket waiver, he’s able to return for the 2021 campaign.

Due to NCAA transfer rules, McDonald had to sit out the 2018 season. He did not get on the field during the 2019 season, his first year of eligibility at Minnesota. However, in 2020, the defensive back appeared in all seven games for the Golden Gophers, mostly on special teams.

McDonald is credited with two tackles on the season, making one stop against Illinois and another in the season finale against Wisconsin.

Before transferring to Minnesota, McDonald appeared in 23 games at Minnesota Duluth and registered 78 tackles, 16 passes defended, 3 interceptions, two forced fumbles and fumble recovery and a blocked kick.