Filed under: Clemson, Prospects
CLEMSON, S.C. -- About a year ago, Dennis Bowers sat his son down for an important talk.In 2008, Da'Quan Bowers had arrived at Clemson as the nation's top overall recruit, one of the Tigers' most hyped prospects in recent memory.
Entering his junior season, Bowers had become a starter, but had fallen well short of expectations, making only four sacks in 17 career starts. A knee injury hampered him as a sophomore, but his poor work ethic didn't help. He cut corners in the weight room and on the field, and it was time for that to stop.
"He told me to stop playing around," Da'Quan recalled recently. "Stop being a kid. Be a man."
Dennis Bowers would be proud of what his son has become.
When the NFL scouting combine begins next month in Indianapolis, Da'Quan Bowers will enter as one of its top prospects, fueled by a quest to become the draft's top overall selection, and Clemson's first No. 1 overall pick ever.
He declared for the NFL Draft in early January following one of Clemson's best defensive seasons ever; 15.5 sacks (second on the school's all-time single-season list) and 26 tackles for loss. It earned him unanimous All-America honors, the Nagurski Award, given to college football's top defensive player, and the Ted Hendricks Award, given to college football's top defensive end.
Now, he is training to earn a high draft position while honoring the memory of Dennis -- who died suddenly last August -- and two other key mentors who died in the last year.
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