Bishop Starling, a cornerback from Ensworth, became a late addition to Vanderbilt football’s 2026 class as he announced that he had signed with the program via social media on March 2.
The Commodores also announced that Starling had signed.
Starling, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds, is not ranked by the 247Sports Composite, however, he also had offers from Louisville, Ole Miss, Purdue and Syracuse.
Although Starling is undersized for the position, Ensworth coach Tim Hasselbeck said, “There’s a difference between being short and being little.”
Hasselbeck has coached Starling since he was in elementary school.
Hasselbeck felt Vanderbilt would find a strong return on its investment for taking Starling despite his lack of size and recruiting accolades.
“He’s extremely strong,” Hasselbeck said. ” … He’s fast, he’s competitive, he’s got good ball skills, all of that. … Smart, instinctive, unselfish, fast, quick, physical, willing to tackle, strong.”
Hasselbeck said that Starling was likely to play corner or nickel with the Commodores but he could also be used as a kick returner due to his speed.
Starling is the 22nd signee in the Commodores’ 2026 class, with 20 enrolling early, including five-star Nashville Christian quarterback Jared Curtis.
There are three other cornerbacks in the freshman class: four-star Collin Flanigan and three-stars Antoine Baker and Jeremy Garner. Vanderbilt also took two transfer corners in Jaylin Davies (Oklahoma State) and Cobey Sellers (Texas A&M).
Hasselbeck, who grew up in Massachusetts and played at Boston College, knows the appeal of playing close to home. Starling’s brother, Ethan Starling, is also at Ensworth, allowing Bishop to see him play.
“His desire to be close to home, play for such a great program, just his connection and desire to be here, I think was really strong,” Hasselbeck said. “I know that he and his family are extremely excited to be a part of that program.”
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
