2017 DB Richard Bowens adds Big Ten offer

The year just keeps getting better and better for Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's junior defensive back, Richard Bowens. After winning a state title in football, and track and field for St. Mary's, as well as taking home the gold medal in the 300m hurdles in the state championships. To add to that, Bowens received his first Big Ten offer on Sunday, when the Minnesota Gophers decided to get in on his recruitment.

Bowens attended the Gophers camp, impressing the coaching staff enough to earn the offer.

"I was very happy," Bowens laughed. "I said thank you, and that I appreciated the offer. It was great to get the offer. It was a good experience, and I had a pretty good camp. I had good testing, and I did good in my individuals. The staff was great, and I was really happy to hear the words come out his mouth that he was giving me a scholarship, and the fact that it was from the Big Ten made it even better."

Bowens was offered personally by Minnesota head coach, Jerry Kill, and defensive backs coach, Jay Sawvel. The Gophers had Bowens on their radar before he even camped with them over the weekend, as they like to recruit the metro Detroit area, boasting two freshmen defensive backs from Southfield (Mich.) High on their roster. Bowens is a rising junior, with great size right now for his position, at 6-1, 175-pounds. The Gophers being the first high-major school to offer Bowens could go a long ways for them when he makes his college decision. Recruits never forget who their first big-time offer came from.

"We were just talking in a room after the camp," Bowens said. "Me, Coach Kill, Coach Sawvel, and my dad, and they were just saying that they liked my film, and my talents, and that they saw everything that they needed to see, and extended me a scholarship offer. Then we talked about going back up there, because I really didn't get to take a tour, so I plan on going back up there for a game, and to keep in touch with them."

The high school season is just weeks away for Bowens, so a visit back up to Minnesota won't be anytime soon for him, as he prepares for the first game. But he does plan on getting back there sometime this year to experience what the Gophers have to offer him.

"Most likely, I will get back up there this fall, so that I can see a game," he said. "I read a couple of articles that Coach Sawvel had sent me about the defensive backs, so I'm really looking to see how their defensive backs play. I want to look at the swag they play with, their game environment, how they handle themselves, and just how good the team is in person."

Bowens currently has three offers to his name, with Minnesota obviously being his biggest one to date. Now that he's on the radar of a Big Ten school, Bowens expects his recruitment to sky-rocket from this point, and is he preparing for it. Although no other Big Ten programs have offered him, some have expressed interest in him, including one from his home state.

"Well, I went from MAC offers, to the Big Ten, so more than likely my recruitment is really going to heat up soon," he said. "I'm imagining some out of state schools will come, and some more Big Ten schools. Besides Minnesota, I've heard from Michigan State. They said that they really like me, and that they can't wait to see me more during my junior year.

"I haven't really talked to Michigan, but I have also heard from Eastern Michigan, and Cincinnati.

"I really want to visit the schools that have offered me, because they have been showing me the most love. I really want to Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio), Minnesota, and I really want to go to that Michigan State versus Oregon game."

The upcoming season is not only important for Bowens as far as his recruitment goes, but he and his teammates also want to defend their Division 3 state title at St. Mary's. Bowens will play a major role in their success this season, as one of the top players on their defense. The Eaglets have one of the best junior class in the state, with Bowens, Kahlee Hamler, Joshua Ross, Ryan Johnson, Dwayne Chapman, and some others, and will enter the season as one of the top teams in the state this year, and even next year. This season is an important one for them.

"We're expecting big things, and we want to repeat as state champions," said Bowens. "We have very high expectations, and we've been working hard this off-season. We don't want to lose a game, and we think we can go undefeated and repeat."

Bowens is all a state champion in track and field at St. Mary's and a very accomplished player at such a young age. As the top hurdler in the state, Bowens also using his talent in that sport to perfect his football craft, especially with him being a defensive back, and having to jump.

"Coaches like me because I am a bigger and longer defensive back," said Bowens. "I take long strides, and I run really well. So hurdles help me with my stamina, my strides, jumping, and helps me run better. It's all about being more athletic.

"Last year I won counties as a freshman in the freshman championships. I finished fifth in regionals that season too, so to go from fifth in regionals, to No.1 in the state is a big jump."