Football Recruiting: Ridgeland WR/DB Devin Bowman commits to UGA
Richt: We got one of the Bowman Brothers (AJC)
A member of one of Georgia’s most famous football families will finally play for UGA.
Ridgeland two-way standout Devin Bowman committed to UGA on Saturday after introducing his mother to Bulldogs coach Mark Richt. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound speedster will play cornerback or wide receiver in college.
“Devin was all excited, and his mom was all excited,” Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis told the AJC. “He had been (to Georgia) before and looked around. His mom hadn’t.
“It was one of those trips where the whole family wanted to get peace about the (decision), and make sure it was the right place to stay for the next 4-5 years. Devin called me after they talked to (Richt) to say ‘I’m a Bulldog.’”
Bowman picked UGA over Georgia Tech, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Oklahoma State, among others. His oldest brother, Adarius Bowman, played wide receiver at Oklahoma State, and recently finished his second year in the CFL, catching 55 passes for 925 yards and six touchdowns for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Another Bowman brother, Michael Bowman, was redshirted at wide receiver this past season at BCS champion Alabama.
How do the brothers compare? “They are different athletes,” Mariakis said. “Devin is not as tall as Mike (6-4, 210). I didn’t get the chance to coach Darius (6-4, 220), but he’s a heck of an athlete, too. Devin is different kind of kid. He has that burner speed, that “next level speed” that Mike didn’t have. But they both bring different things to the table. Devin is a tremendous athlete (runs 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds) and will have a lot of success in the SEC.”
Loading ...Two seasons ago, Michael was considered to be the state’s No. 1 prospect at wide receiver and went public with his desire to sign with Georgia. However, the Bulldogs did not tender an offer because they were pursuing other prospects at the position. Alabama coach Nick Saban saw an opportunity and quickly landed Michael for the Crimson Tide’s 2009 recruiting class.
Back to UGA: Devin is Georgia’s second commitment in two days, following in the footsteps of North Paulding wide receiver Chris Conley — who committed to Georgia over Alabama over the telephone on Friday morning.
“Coach Richt was in his car, going to North Carolina to watch his son [Mars Hill quarterback Jon Richt] practice,” North Paulding coach Heath Webb said. “He was excited to hear about Chris’ decision.”
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Conley caught all 81 passes thrown to him last season, finishing with 848 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Conley, has been timed at 4.42 seconds in the 40, is a late bloomer to sports, starting his football career as a freshman.
“He has a lot of things going for him, with his hands probably being his greatest attribute,” Webb said. “He has ‘oven-mitt’ hands … big, big hands which help with catching the ball.”
Wide receiver became an emergency recruiting need for Georgia after the last-minute defection of Calhoun star Da’Rick Rogers to Tennessee last February. Rogers was the AJC’s No. 1-rated prospect for the state.
UGA has six early pledges toward its 2011 recruiting class. What is most remarkable about the group? All six are homegrown talents from the Peach State — North Clayton linebacker Amarlo Herrera, Wesleyan offensive lineman David Andrews, and safeties Corey Moore of Griffin and Chris Sanders of Tucker.
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79 comments Add your comment
Steve's Girl
April 18th, 2010
9:43 am
“Bowman’s academics were better than some prospects (at other positions) that UGA signed in 2009..”
Specifically which players?
Pago Flyer
April 18th, 2010
9:50 am
Are we looking at another pre-season # 1 for 2011!
Stinger
April 18th, 2010
10:03 am
25-6 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you guys still playing baseball or did you decide to just quit and hang it up for the season?? Just wondering. I really see no purpose in you playing the season out, but if you do, get the brooms out as we sweep you at Turner field.
Diamond Dog's Parole Officer's Little Weiner
April 18th, 2010
10:12 am
I am a panty-waist with no life who spends all his time obsessing over UGA football players because they are the type of man I will never be.
dowgever
April 18th, 2010
10:28 am
kudos young man and welcome to UGA
the real Stinger
April 18th, 2010
10:29 am
25-6? is that UGAs record against GT for the last 31 years in football or does 30-24 sting even more!
Igotyourdog
April 18th, 2010
10:39 am
Normal day in the life of the dogs- kind of a I have no life as a drunken 35 year old so I get excited about recruiting and what might (but never does) come from it-
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
April 18th, 2010
10:57 am
great to hear, sounds like a great kid from a great family. 2011 is shaping up nicely.
anyone know if the magic number is still 25 max for 2011?
Athens is the place to be
April 18th, 2010
11:24 am
Welcome, Richt and Grantham are putting together a great class!!!! I recently watched a video on Isiah Crowell and he said that his two favorite schools are Alabama and Georgia. He also stated that he thought of UGA as his dream school growing up. Hopefully, UGA can snag that playmaker and gain hype on this recruiting class. Lets forget the distraction from last year’s recruiting season, Darick “Benedict” Rogers, he is a joke! I’m certain that we will have a great class this year and can win the EAST for years to come! Congrats Bowman!!!!! Welcome to the beautiful Athens, GA!!!!!!!!!
bruce mac
April 18th, 2010
11:37 am
Stinger, we are still playing but not well as you can imagine. That was a true beat down. Good luck in NCAA tourney and GO DAWGS in something other than Baseball.
I have a great recruiting idea for tech
April 18th, 2010
12:17 pm
AL Groh has NFL contacts ……….correct? Is this not how the Tech public was sold on big Al ?? It was argued that “with his NFL contacts, why tech will sign nothing but 5 star kids from now on”, said CPJ. Right???
He needs to go on ALL of tech’s recruiting trips from now on and talk about the fact that he once met Johnny Unitas and Darryl Lamonica and Bart Starr and even Jim Brown and Dick Butkas and THAT will sell the kid. Right??? I mean even though Al was a coach in The League about 40 years ago, the NFL contacts are simply earth shattering …….right??
The kids and their 36 year old parents will be asking ” who in the hell is Johnny Unitas.”?? AAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA
Al Groh is irrelevant with today’s recruits and we are seeing it every day. He is yet one more CPJ MISTAKE.
Goooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. Sic em!!
Tech Sucks
April 18th, 2010
1:53 pm
UGA is killing it in recruiting as always. Reload baby.
harold
April 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
I HAVE WATCHED THIS KID PLAY. HE IS WELL BELOW GEORGIA STANDARDS! HE IS NOTHING LIKE THE ROGERS KID THAT CHOSE TENNESSEE OVER GEORGIA!
Gillislee
April 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
This kid isn’t anything to special, he is a 3 star prospect who was interested in two SEC teams, UGA and Bama………Bama didn’t offer anything. Look… Florida and Bama are going to beat up the Dawgs and most every other team in the country in recruiting for years to come and their teams will be better.
Rivals top 5 classes
2010 – Florida #2, Alabama #3
2009 – Alabama #1
2008 – Alabama #1, Florida #3
2007 – Florida #1
dc3
April 18th, 2010
7:38 pm
i hope he doesn’t pull a da rick rogers on us
Rodney Garners
April 18th, 2010
9:48 pm
Anybody know a good place to eat in Ridgeland? Preferably near an ATM.
Dawg 3/20
April 18th, 2010
10:03 pm
Mark “2-7″ Richt just sent his #1 QB packing……..I heard several SEC teams are already in contact with him so you probably haven’t seen the last of Mettenberger.
Georgia Lands Two Commitments « MrSEC.com
April 18th, 2010
10:49 pm
[...] Georgia received two commitments during the weekend.Wide receiver Chris Conley from North Paulding High School in Dallas, Ga., and cornerback Devin Bowman from Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Ga., both chose the Bulldogs during the weekend.Conley made the announcement through a release, which you can find here from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Today my family and I are ending my recruitment,” Conley said in his statement. “This decision was reached through much traveling and research but ultimately prayer. Through all of this, I have come to decide that I will be attending the University of Georgia.”Conley, who chose Georgia over Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Stanford, isn’t likely to visit other schools.“In keeping with my beliefs,” he said, “I want my yes to be yes and my no to be no. Therefore, as of today, I will discontinue my contact with all schools other than UGA.”Bowman could play cornerback or wide receiver for Georgia. He’s the younger brother of former Oklahoma State receiver Adarius Bowman and current Alabama receiver Michael Bowman, who will be a redshirt freshman this fall.Michael Carvell of the AJC has a nice story on Bowman’s commitment to Georgia. Read it here. [...]
dirty
April 19th, 2010
12:01 am
Isiah Crowell is the one recuit Georgi must get.He’s the best rb in the country.
dirty
April 19th, 2010
12:02 am
georgia
BigGAdawg
April 19th, 2010
1:31 am
These two commitments are welcome news. Though my happiness is tempered by the situation with Mett being booted from the team. I hope he is able to get it together and pursue his football career elsewhere.
Mr. Conley and Mr. Bowman, a warm welcome to the fold of the DAWG NATION!!!
SIC EM!!! WOOF WOOF WOOF!!!!!
Recruiting News 19Apr: Leather Helmet Blog
April 19th, 2010
4:01 am
[...] North Paulding receiver Chris Conley announced his intention of signing with Georgia on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Conley caught all 81 passes thrown to him last season, finishing with 848 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Conley, has been timed at 4.42 seconds in [...]
Craig
April 19th, 2010
9:57 am
Why do Tech and Gator fans come on this blog??? It amazes me, it really does.
AceDawg
April 19th, 2010
10:46 am
UGA has a chance to jump back on big time recruiting with the new energy created by Grantham’s hire. It’s almost like era #2 for Richt. A chance to start anew, though its not like UGA fell off the map altogether.
South Ga Dawg
April 19th, 2010
12:23 pm
Better sign a Q.B. this class
bawahahahahahahha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 19th, 2010
2:10 pm
Just yet another recruit that Coach Paul “turkey neck” Johnson has lost out to Coach Richt. Let me guess, tool fans. He would have been a “student athlete” had he committed to the Trade School, but since he’s all Dawg he’s now an “illiterate thug.” Gotta love those douchebag Yech fans and their pathetic hypocrisies.
Recruiting Update 20Apr: Leather Helmet Blog
April 20th, 2010
5:56 am
[...] North Paulding receiver Chris Conley announced his intention of signing with Georgia on Friday. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Conley caught all 81 passes thrown to him last season, finishing with 848 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Conley, has been timed at 4.42 seconds in [...]
bigdawg8
April 20th, 2010
5:06 pm
I have seen Bowman play and he is a great athlete with burner speed! UGA needs to also look at his other 2 teammates all region DE/LB Mason Harris 6-4 220 (who I heard is being recruited by Nebraska and others) and all region RB/WR Deonte Marsh 5-11 180 4.3 speed also. This trio will probably take the panthers deep into the state playoffs again. UGA already got a commit from standout Panther baseball pitcher Alex Ridge! Go DAWGS!!!
Dave Pernos
April 20th, 2010
5:20 pm
Mark June 25th on your calendar boys