Da'Quan Bowers

Da'Quan Bowers (born February 23, 1990) is an American football coach and former professional gridiron football defensive end who is currently the defensive line coach at the University of South Florida. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Clemson, where he earned unanimous All-American honors. He was also a member of the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Da'Quan Bowers
Bowers with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
South Florida Bulls
Position:Defensive line coach
Personal information
Born: (1990-02-23) February 23, 1990
Bamberg, South Carolina
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:288 lb (131 kg)
Career information
High school:Bamberg-Ehrhardt
(Bamberg, South Carolina)
College:Clemson
NFL Draft:2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 51
Career history
As player:
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:69
Sacks:7.0
Forced fumbles:0
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at CFL.ca

High school career

Bowers attended Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School in Bamberg, South Carolina, where he was a three-sport athlete in football and track. He played as a defensive end and running back for the Bamberg-Ehrhardt Red Raiders high school football team.[3] As a senior in 2007, he led the team to an 11–2 record by recording 97 tackles, 33 tackles for loss and 14 sacks on defense, while on offense, he rushed for 1,219 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, he caught two touchdown passes, averaged 40 yards per kickoff return, and blocked seven kicks.[4]

Bowers also starred in track & field as a shot putter (top-throw of 46–0.75 or 14.35m) and sprinter (11.7s 100m).[5]

Bowers was ranked the No. 1 overall prospect by ESPN.com in 2008,[6] 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".[7] He chose Clemson over Florida State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech.[8]

College career

Bowers graduated early from high school and enrolled at Clemson University in January 2008, where he was a member of the Clemson Tigers football team from 2008 to 2010.[9] He went through 2008 spring drills and had a game-high seven tackles in the 2008 Spring Game. As a true freshman in 2008, Bowers started six of 13 games, finishing the season with 37 tackles including eight for loss.[10] During his second year in 2009, Bowers recorded 46 tackles, 10.5 for loss and three sacks, despite an injury that forced him to miss three games.[11]

As a junior in 2010, Bowers recorded 67 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.[12] He led the nation in sacks and was tied for the most tackles for loss. Following the season, he was a first-team All-ACC selection, and was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American.[13] He was also honored as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and was the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.[14]

Professional career

As early as April 2010, Bowers was seen as a candidate for the No. 1 overall spot in the 2011 NFL Draft.[15][16] 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 prospects available as of January 2011.[17]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench pressWonderlic
6 ft 3 3⁄8 in
(1.91 m)		 280 lb
(127 kg)		 33 1⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		 10 1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		4.92 s1.76 s2.89 s4.57 s6.98 s34 1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)		22 reps×
All values from Clemson Pro Day, bench press from NFL Combine[18]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bowers was selected in the second round (51st overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[19] Bowers was selected lower than expected due to medical issues, including off-season knee surgery.[20] Bowers played in all 16 regular season games, starting in six, contributing 25 tackles.[21] The following off-season, during the Bucs off-season program, he tore his Achilles tendon on May 10, 2012.[22] Bowers was activated from the PUP on October 25, 2012. He played his first game of the 2012 season that same night against the Minnesota Vikings.[23] He would finish his second season in the league having played in 10 games, but only amassing 13 tackles.[24]

In the off-season Bowers was arrested for carrying an (unloaded) gun at LaGuardia Airport.[25] The sentence was reduced on April 11, 2013.[26] Bowers played only sparingly in 2013, and by the summer of 2014 there were serious doubts as to whether he would make the Buccaneers roster for the 2014 season.[27][28] During that same off-season, Bowers' was switched to a hybrid defensive end/defensive tackle.[29] On October 21, 2014 Bowers was suspended two games by the NFL for using performance-enhancing substances.[30] Bowers became a free agent that off-season, but was ultimately re-signed by the Buccaneers on July 27, 2015 for the 2015 training camp.[31] Bowers was released by the Buccaneers on September 4, 2015.[32] On December 15, 2015 Bowers re-signed with the Buccaneers.[33] Bowers was not re-signed by the Buccaneers following the conclusion of the 2015 season. Throughout his entire Buccaneer career Bowers was often injured; earning him a place on the season-ending injury reserved list. In his five seasons in Tampa Bay Bowers played in 53 games, starting in 10 of them, contributing 69 tackles and 7 quarterback sacks.

Edmonton Eskimos

On May 11, 2017, Bowers signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[34] Bowers played in 14 games for the Eskimos in 2017, contributing 17 defensive tackles, seven sacks, and one interception. In early March 2018 Bowers and the Eskimos agreed to a two-year contract extension.[35]

Retirement

On May 20, 2018, Bowers announced his retirement from football.[36]

Coaching career

Following his retirement from football, Bowers joined the football staff at Clemson as a student assistant working with the defensive line while finishing his degree.[37][38]

South Florida

Bowers was named the defensive line coach at South Florida in 2020, joining former Clemson offensive coordinator Jeff Scott's inaugural staff.[39][40]

Personal life

Bowers was born in Bamberg, South Carolina to parents Dennis and Linda Bowers. His father, a gospel singer and guitarist with the Legendary Singing Stars, died on August 8, 2010, in Augusta, Georgia, at the age of 51. Da'Quan Bowers is also a member of The Legendary Singing Stars, occasionally singing lead and playing guitar.[41]

As a child, Bowers looked up to Reggie White. Bowers grew up as a Dallas Cowboys fan and a Los Angeles Lakers fan.[42]

On February 17, 2013, Bowers was arrested in New York City at La Guardia Airport on weapons charges after voluntarily turning over an unloaded .40-caliber handgun to security at LaGuardia Airport where he was traveling. The weapon was indeed permitted to carry but he was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.[43] On April 11, 2013, the felony charge was dropped and Bowers pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. He paid a $370 fine and his court record was sealed.[44]

References
  1. "2010 Heisman Trophy, College Football Awards". Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  2. Bowers ACC's Defensive Player of the Year – ACC Blog – ESPN
  3. "Da'Quan Bowers, Bamberg-Ehrhardt , Strong-Side Defensive End". 247Sports. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  4. "Clemsons Harper, Bowers to receive awards". clemson.rivals.com. January 11, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  5. "DaQuan Bowers - Clemson - Buccaneers DE". Tracking Football. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  6. "ESPN Football Recruiting - Player Rankings - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  7. "Past vs. Present: Look back at the best". Rivals.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  8. "DaQuan Bowers, 2008 Strongside defensive end". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  9. "Five January Enrollees Join Clemson Football Program :: Bowers, #1 player in the nation by ESPN.com leads class". CSTV.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  10. "Da'Quan Bowers 2008 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  11. "Da'Quan Bowers 2009 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  12. "Da'Quan Bowers 2010 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  13. 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 12 (2011). Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  14. "2010 Bronko Nagurski Trophy". FWAA. December 6, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  15. Lande, Russ (April 26, 2010). "Never too early: A first look at the first round of the 2011 NFL draft". Sporting News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  16. Perloff, Andrew (April 27, 2010). "(Way early) 2011 NFL Mock Draft". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on April 29, 2010.
  17. Banks, Don (January 27, 2011). "Sports Illustrated Mock Draft". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011.
  18. Dagger (April 29, 2011). "2011 NFL Combine Results". postgameheroes.com. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  19. "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  20. Howe, Jeff (April 29, 2011). "2011 NFL Draft Day 1 Losers Include Da'Quan Bowers, Cincinnati Bengals, Reggie Bush". NESN.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  21. "Da'Quan Bowers 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  22. Smith, Joe (November 10, 2012). "Bucs defensive end Da'Quan Bowers attacked rehab from ruptured Achilles". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  23. "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings - October 25th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  24. "Da'Quan Bowers 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  25. Garafolo, Mike (February 18, 2013). "Buccaneers' Da'Quan Bowers arrested for carrying gun at LaGuardia Airport". USA Today. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  26. Garafolo, Mike (April 11, 2013). "Gun charges against Da'Quan Bowers reduced". USA Today. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  27. Conner, Matt (June 6, 2014). "Bowers has yet to make good on pre-draft hype". SBNation.com. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  28. Auman, Greg; Stroud, Greg (August 20, 2014). "Injury could cost Da'Quan Bowers spot with Bucs". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  29. http://www.buccaneers.com/team-and-stats/depth-chart.html
  30. Patra, Kevin (October 21, 2014). "Bucs' Da'Quan Bowers suspended for PED violation". National Football League. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  31. Adam Caplan [@caplannfl] (July 27, 2015). "#Buccaneers announced signing of DE Da'Quan Bowers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. Sessler, Marc (September 4, 2015). "Buccaneers send Da'Quan Bowers packing". National Football League. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  33. "Buccaneers Bring Da'Quan Bowers Back". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Archived from the original on December 17, 2015.
  34. Moddejonge, Gerry (May 12, 2017). "Edmonton Eskimos announce 22 new additions ahead of training camp". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  35. "Eskimos extend DL Bowers – Article – TSN". TSN. March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  36. Williams, Charean (May 21, 2018). "Former Bucs defensive end Da'Quan Bowers retires". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  37. Spencer, Shawn. "Clemson Football: Da'Quan Bowers to help coach Defensive Ends for the Tigers". FanSided. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  38. Hood, David. "Wednesday Morning Insider: Bowers is back at Clemson, Swinney camp heats up". TigerNet.com. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  39. McGuire, Kevin. "Jeff Scott adds Da'Quan Bowers as defensive line coach at USF". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  40. Knight, Joey. "Ex-Bucs defensive end Da'Quan Bowers will coach USF's defensive line". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  41. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com – accessed August 2010
  42. "Chat with Da'Quan Bowers". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  43. Sessler, Marc (February 18, 2013). "Buccaneers' Da'Quan Bowers arrested on gun charge". NFL.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  44. Carrega-Woodby, Christina (April 11, 2013). "Bucs DE Bowers pleads guilty to disorderly conduct for bringing gun to LaGuardia". New York Post. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
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