DaQuan Bowers
Encyclopedia
Da'Quan Bowers is an American football
defensive end
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. He decided to enter the 2011 NFL Draft
after finishing his junior year at Clemson University
.
Bowers was ranked the #1 overall high school football prospect by ESPN.com
in 2008, the first Clemson recruit in history to be ranked as the number-one player in the nation by any recruiting service. Rivals.com
dubbed Bowers the top defensive end prospect of the high school classes 2005–2009, describing him as "the closest thing to Reggie White
and Bruce Smith".
In 2010 Bowers was second on the team in tackles (74), and led the team in tackles for loss (26), sacks (15.5) and quarterback pressures (20). His 15.5 sacks led the nation and his 26 tackles for loss were tied for most in the nation and were fifth-most in school history. He was a Unanimous First-team All-American and on December 1, 2010, he won the honor of ACC Defensive Player of the year for the 2010 season. A week later, he was named the recipient of the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy
.
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
. He remained at the top of most mock draft projections over the course of the season, especially after Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck
, who was widely considered to be the No. 1 prospect for the 2011 draft, returned to school. Along with Nick Fairley
, Marcell Dareus
, and Patrick Peterson
, Bowers was still listed among the best propects available as of January 2011.
Da'Quan Bowers was selected in the 2nd round (51st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bowers was selected lower than expected due to medical issues, including offseason knee surgery.
, at the age of 51. He was a gospel
singer with the Legendary Singing Stars. As a child, Bowers looked up to Reggie White
. Bowers has only one pre-game ritual which is praying. Bowers grew up as a Dallas Cowboys
fan and is a Los Angeles Lakers
fan.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. He decided to enter the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
after finishing his junior year at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
.
High school career
Bowers led Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School to an 11–2 record in 2007 by recording 97 tackles on defense, including 33 tackles for loss and 14 sacks. On offense, the 6–3, 265-pounder rushed for 1219 yards and 19 touchdowns and also caught two touchdown passes. He also averaged 40 yards per kickoff return and blocked seven kicks.Bowers was ranked the #1 overall high school football prospect by ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
in 2008, the first Clemson recruit in history to be ranked as the number-one player in the nation by any recruiting service. Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
dubbed Bowers the top defensive end prospect of the high school classes 2005–2009, describing him as "the closest thing to Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
and Bruce Smith".
College career
Bowers graduated early from high school and enrolled at Clemson in January 2008. He went through 2008 spring drills and had a game-high seven tackles in the 2008 Spring Game. In 2008 Bowers had 47 tackles, most among Tiger defensive linemen and eighth-most on the team while starting six games. In 2009, he finished with 58 tackles in spite of an injury that forced him to miss several games. He had 11 tackles in the ACC Championship game against Georgia Tech.In 2010 Bowers was second on the team in tackles (74), and led the team in tackles for loss (26), sacks (15.5) and quarterback pressures (20). His 15.5 sacks led the nation and his 26 tackles for loss were tied for most in the nation and were fifth-most in school history. He was a Unanimous First-team All-American and on December 1, 2010, he won the honor of ACC Defensive Player of the year for the 2010 season. A week later, he was named the recipient of the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
.
College awards and highlights
- 2010 All ACC Football (DE)
- 2010 ACC Defensive Player of the Year
- 2010 All American (unanimous)
- 2010 Bronko Nagurski TrophyBronko Nagurski TrophyThe Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
- 2010 Ted Hendricks AwardTed Hendricks AwardThe Ted Hendricks Award is given annually to college football's top defensive end. The award is named after Ted Hendricks, who is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is presented by his own 501 foundation, called the Ted Hendricks...
Professional career
Bowers was taken with the 51st overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
.
Measureables
2011 NFL Draft
As early as April 2010, Bowers was seen as a candidate for the No. 1 overall spot in the 2011 NFL Draft2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
. He remained at the top of most mock draft projections over the course of the season, especially after Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck
Andrew Austen Luck is an American football quarterback for Stanford University. He was the runner-up for the 2010 Heisman Trophy, and is considered a leading contender for the 2011 Heisman Trophy. He was a finalist for the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Award, the Davey O'Brien Award and the...
, who was widely considered to be the No. 1 prospect for the 2011 draft, returned to school. Along with Nick Fairley
Nick Fairley
Nick Fairley is an American football defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn....
, Marcell Dareus
Marcell Dareus
-Buffalo Bills:Dareus was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills on April 28, 2011. On April 29, the day after the first round, the Bills announced that Dareus would wear jersey number 99. On July, 29, 2011, Dareus signed a 4 year deal with the Bills worth...
, and Patrick Peterson
Patrick Peterson
Patrick De'mon Peterson is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted fifth overall by the Cardinals in the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisiana State....
, Bowers was still listed among the best propects available as of January 2011.
Da'Quan Bowers was selected in the 2nd round (51st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bowers was selected lower than expected due to medical issues, including offseason knee surgery.
Personal
His father, Dennis Bowers passed away on August 8, 2010, in Augusta, GeorgiaAugusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, at the age of 51. He was a gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer with the Legendary Singing Stars. As a child, Bowers looked up to Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
. Bowers has only one pre-game ritual which is praying. Bowers grew up as a Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
fan and is a Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
fan.