Prior to his trip to Kentucky, wide receiver was already sure he would commit to the Wildcats. “The visit was exceptional. My family and I felt so comfortable there, even my younger cousins enjoyed it,” Bowman stated. “I felt like they valued me and genuinely wanted me to join. I was convinced this was the right place for me.
Each visit felt just as great as the first.” Despite his positive feelings, Bowman did not commit during his visit. Instead, he waited and made the commitment while vacationing in Puerto Rico with 20 family members.
“Being with everyone was important to me, so I wanted to share the celebration with them all. My sister couldn’t join me on the visit, but she was in Puerto Rico, and I wanted her to be there when I made my commitment,” explained the 6-0, 200-pound Bowman. “It was wonderful to celebrate together and created a truly unforgettable experience.”
The 6-0, 195-pound receiver from Pickerington (Ohio) North High School had been on Kentucky’s radar for nearly two years. At the time of his commitment, he already had an offer from national champion Michigan, and he received an offer from Ohio State less than 24 hours after choosing UK.
“I made my commitment and then Ohio State offered while I was in Puerto Rico,” Bowman explained. “(Ohio State) Coach (Ryan) Day texted me at 6 in the morning and said he would call at 9. When I woke up, he called and offered. I’m not sure why he did that. I had visited Ohio State seven or eight times and had showcased my abilities.
They were impressed during camp. Then I went to Michigan and later to Kentucky, where I performed exceptionally well.” Ohio State has produced four first-round receivers in the last three NFL drafts in Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
However, Bowman emphasized that he was “fully committed” to Kentucky, and the coaching staff expressed their strong interest after his impressive performance at a summer camp.
“They admired my work ethic and how I conducted myself. I always gave 100 percent effort in every repetition. That’s the way I was taught to approach everything,” Bowman expressed.
He posted a 4.5-second 40-yard dash time at Ohio State’s camp on June 5 and was named the camp MVP at Michigan on June 10. Subsequently, he participated in UK’s camp on June 12. Bowman mentioned that UK’s receivers coach, Daikiel Shorts, pointed out a “significant difference” between his junior season film and his performance at the UK camp.
“My ball-handling skills improved, and my route running was precise,” the receiver from Ohio remarked. “My objective was to leave a lasting impression at the camp, and I believe I achieved that.”
During the offseason, the three-star receiver engaged in 5 a.m. workouts with his team three days a week and trained on his own for two additional days, focusing on catching balls at 5 a.m. “I aimed to enhance my abilities every day. I don’t take breaks. I am always striving to improve,” Bowman stated, even mentioning catching passes from his cousin while on vacation in Puerto Rico.
Bowman believes in giving his best effort in everything he does and refuses to confine himself to just one area of expertise. He recorded 43 receptions for 713 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023 and described himself as a proficient route runner who can turn screen passes into scoring plays.
“I can also block. While many people overlook the significance of blocking for a receiver, I believe that being able to block effectively contributes to the team’s success and increases the likelihood of getting the ball. I do whatever it takes to benefit the team. Personally, I find blocking enjoyable. Dominating a defender is immensely satisfying,” Bowman explained.
Fully aware of having several potential Division I players as high school teammates, Bowman understands that there will be games where he may not receive many passes. “I’m completely fine with that,” he affirmed.
In his earlier years, Bowman participated in track but opted out this spring to dedicate more time to enhancing speed and refining his skills as a receiver. “My objective is to never let anyone outrun me, and I believe that, given my size, I can still achieve that,” he stated confidently.
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