Bowers gets first lesson in Tiger lawBy Gene Sapakoff (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
 
AP Clemson freshman Da’Quan Bowers was deemed the No. 1 high school football prospect in the nation. CLEMSON — Da'Quan Bowers stands alone and, at 6-5, 265 and with cool hair, he cuts quite a figure. Can you think of any other Clemson freshman football player over the last 25 years who arrived with such high expectation for immediate impact? Anthony Simmons? Roscoe Crosby? Maybe in the Spartanburg metroplex, but neither was deemed the No. 1 high school prospect in the entire nation by "The Worldwide Leader." Clemson last February celebrated its recruiting class as rarely before. Bowers is a remarkably athletic defensive end who returned kicks at Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School. Since recording 14 sacks as a senior, he was named defensive MVP of the ESPN/Under Armor All-American game, enrolled at Clemson in January and fared well among veterans in spring practice. Bowers was one of the stars of the Orange and White game in April when the Death Valley faithful heartily approved his every contribution. But when Bowers appeared to be resting on his laurels this summer — or maybe just resting — his favorite teammate laid down the Tiger law. Ricky Sapp, Bowers' fellow defensive end and second cousin, thought the new guy wasn't putting enough effort into "voluntary" conditioning drills this summer on the Clemson campus. "His biggest problem was all the running," said Sapp, a junior returning starter who also grew up in Bamberg. "It was getting to him. In high school you don't do as much running and lifting and working out. It hit him pretty hard. I had to pull him aside." Alabama plan Bowers was surprised at first, but listened. "Ricky is like a brother to me," Bowers said. "He just told me if I wanted to start right away, I needed to pick it up a notch in summer workouts. I know he knows what he's talking about. He's been here three years. I took it all in and did what he told me to do." Bowers continues to make progress, having just completed the first weekend of official preseason practices. Not that junior Kevin Alexander is ready to concede playing time to Bowers at the defensive end spot opposite Sapp's "bandit end," or that head coach Tommy Bowden is ready for a coronation. "He's a ways away from being a factor right now, but he has all the potential," Bowden said. "It just depends on what he does the next thr0ee weeks and then what he does with the pads on. ... But we saw enough in the spring to know that he could play early if he works hard and does the right things, that's what he has to do." The Georgia Dome opener against Alabama is Aug. 30. "That tackle at Alabama, he'd be licking his chops if you put a high school guy out there, which is more or less what (Bowers) is," Bowden said. "That's what I'm talking about, being 'a ways away.' Now halfway through the year, it might be different." 'No pressure' Bowden probably hopes he's sandbagging. Bowers will play against Alabama, it's just a question of how much. "I haven't thought about that yet," Bowden said. "He has to earn the right to get on the field. He hasn't earned 15 plays, or 30 or starting or anything." Despite the summer slump, Sapp liked what he saw of Bowers on the field in the spring. "He showed the coaches and players he can really play," Sapp said. "He showed he wasn't in high school anymore and that he has that grown-up attitude. I think he's done really well." Bowers is eager to show the college football world and all those people who expect so much. "It's no pressure. I know what I'm capable of doing," he said. "My coaches know what I'm capable of doing. If they feel I can do it, I'm pretty sure they will put me in position to make it work." Of course, it always helps to have a conscientious cousin around. Reach Gene Sapakoff at gsapakoff@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 18 comment(s)
Posted by moonpie on August 5, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah 6-5 and 265 in high school is different than 6-5 and 265 at a D-1 college! He could loaf and run over most of the competition in high school. Good job from the cousin getting him in line.
Posted by theronce on August 5, 2008 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone's 0-0. Only 25 more days...we'll see how they all play.
Posted by notafan on August 5, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Gene there is a little brown spot on your nose. What a hack.
Posted by mcfadden00 on August 5, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Notafan-
Why b/c Gene writes a positive story about two Lowcountry players who are, by all accounts, great young men that are working hard on the field and holding each other accountable?? This isn't a puff piece, it's simply the truth.
Posted by prosperous_hb on August 5, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
I'm not a Clemson fan, but I look forward to seeing this kid play. I hope that he keeps his head on straight and more young men like Sapp steps up to help keep the younger guys straight.
Posted by notafan on August 5, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So I guess tomorrow it will be back to bashing Carolina. I would expect nothing else from Gene.
And are Bamberg and Spartanburg considered the Lowcountry??
Posted by tigerfan07 on August 5, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote for Clemson in the clash of the helmets on ESPN!
Posted by rebel1 on August 5, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
he is leaving a highschool team to play for a college that plays a highschool sch. The avg coast conf.
Posted by fjms on August 5, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought Bamberg was in the lowcountry.
Posted by fjms on August 5, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Again rebel1, how did you guys fare in the A.C.C.? Matter of fact, how have y'all fared in your pathetic history in football? Are you going to keep bashing on the A.C.C. when you go 0-2 this year?
Posted by Rebel_Yell on August 5, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another piece of dribble from Gene--the clemson grad with a buttface. He should really head on back to the bible belt with the rest of the CU (Cheating U) rednecks who think anyone down here cares about a school who has done nothing without cheating to get it. Perhaps Bowers is loafing because Clemson already paid him for committing. I can't wait for Bama to let the air out of the sails of a team that can't seem to win a cupcake division or a middle tier bowl game year after year. CU is certainly great before the games are played--my word, what a bunch of losers with amnesia. Patsys.
Posted by fjms on August 5, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If were patsys, what does that make the shamecocks?
Posted by PalmettoDP on August 5, 2008 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Da'Quan played with my brother in Bamberg, so I've seen him in action. If he can work hard to adjust to the college level, he ought to be a great asset for Clemson.
notafan, fjms - Bamberg could be considered part of the Lowcountry...there are businesses there with "Lowcountry" in their name. I think most people there consider themselves part of the midlands or CSRA, however.
Posted by schleeve23 on August 5, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone named "Rebel_Yell" calling someone else a redneck? You coots are so clever.
Posted by fantasy5 on August 5, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rebel_Yell, I can't stop laughing. You are the joke...
Posted by Goondar on August 5, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rebel_Yell how can you trash Clemson when South Carolina has accomplished absolutely nothing? NOTHING.
Posted by youmanyo on August 5, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They dont care about what there school accomplishes , they have to depend on real SEC teams and teams that beat Clemson for joy. Da’Quan Bowers should fit in perfect , classy person at a classy school.
Posted by charleston_grown on August 5, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why even respond to the guys obviously looking to stir the pot?? all they are doing is trying to get a rise out of you. They are classless. Any fan of any team that makes such inflamatory baseless remarks, is showing their true colors and debasing the program they pull for. No college program deserves fans of that quality. So leave them be, and let them look like the ignorant idiots they are.