I can still remember watching C.J. Spiller in awe. Wondering how Dabo was able to get such a talented RB to come to “Lil Ole Clemson” and if another football player with that kind of talent would ever play for the Tigers again.
Obviously, that last question has been answered over and over during this run…..Yes, there have been equally as talented football players come through the Clemson program.
Great examples would be DW4, Sammy Watkins, Tee Higgins, Christian Wilkins, Dexter Lawrence, and Clelin Ferrell. Of course that list is much longer.
The 2020 class has some elite level studs on paper, and one that most are ready to see is the five star RB out of Lakeland, FL by the name of Demarkcus Bowman. During Bowman’s three year high school career, he compiled 5,081 yards rushing on 446 carries (11.4 yards per carry) and scored 70 touchdowns.
Bowman edged Henry Parrish Jr, of Miami Columbus High School, for the 2019 Florida Mr. Football award. He (Bowman) joins a list of past winners of this award that includes Travis Henry, Derrick Henry, and Dalvin Cook, and that’s not bad company at all.
Bowman committed to Clemson last spring and he will enroll in school for the first summer session. Lakeland has long been a pipeline to the University of Florida, but he went his own direction and signed with the Tigers.
Dabo had nothing but high praise for Bowman, saying that he reminds him of another great Clemson back.
“He is special. He is another version of CJ Spiller. When I first put my eyes on him that is what I thought of him. Now he is a long ways away from that, but as far as explosiveness and track speed, the ability to catch the football, every time he touches it he can go the distance. He can return and those types of things. I think there are a lot of similarities between the two coming out of high school. He is a little thicker than C.J. was, but he has that type of explosiveness and it’s easy to see coming out of the system he played in.”
This would make sense seeing as 247’s evaluation stated he has a short, compact, and muscular build (like that of Spiller), with head-turning acceleration and top-end speed. He is well proportioned and a true home run threat with a no nonsense, vertical game.
Bowman is a north-south style runner with a decisive style that can fit into both the spread, or more conventional systems. He was very productive at a top-flight program with his best games coming in the biggest moments.
In the 2018 state title game against St. Thomas Aquinas, he ran for 222 yards. He has verified sub 4.5 speed, with a lower-body explosion to finish runs behind his pads. He gets to top speed in a hurry to eliminate angles and has elite balance.
Bowman also has an effective jump cut and can decelerate and re-route to counter overpursuit. He has the tools to work as an effective blocker or play off the ball.
Bowman does have limited lateral ability, but with room to improve as a receiver out of the backfield. 247 expects him to see near immediate playing time at Clemson and a guy who is likely on the three year plan.
