Brock Bowers proving to be equally big weapon as ball carrier and receiver
SEC Network commentator and former Georgia Bulldog Matt Stinchcomb said, “He’s more than a tight end,” when describing Brock Bowers on the broadcast Saturday. That’s never been more true than on Saturday as the sophomore out of Napa, Calif. scored twice, both on the ground.
Bowers took a handoff 75-yards to the house on the second play of the game for Georgia to give the Bulldogs an early lead. Then, a couple of drives later, he once again crossed into the end zone on the ground, this time from 2 yards out. This season, Bowers has three rushes, all three of which end in scores. On his career, he’s touched the ball seven times on the ground and scored four of those times. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said on Saturday after the game that they’ve had Bowers practice with the running backs at times because of the skillset that he brings to the table there. Whether he was joking or not, it’s not the worst idea in the world.
“What a weapon he is, what a tough character he is. He makes you defend the whole 53,” Smart said. “When he comes in motion, the expectation is I’ve got to stop the sideline and that loosens them up for some softer runs, too. When you run for 250 and throw for 250, you’re doing something right.”
Smart was asked if he’s seen a more dynamic player than Bowers in College Football. Although he admitted that he hasn’t seen many games this season other than the ones Georgia is playing in plus the ones he watches to scout the Bulldogs’ opponents, Smart might not have been wrong if he had just said ‘Yes.’
Just a week after finishing with three touchdowns and 126 total yards in Georgia’s win over South Carolina, Bowers totaled 137 and two scores on Saturday.
“It’s always fun to get the ball wherever you can get it,” Bowers said. “I think just coming out of the backfield, you can see more stuff and kind of do your thing more. I like it.”
“I think it just kind of adds another wrinkle in Coach Monken’s offense to get more playmakers the ball,” he continued. “It kind of has the defense be more aware of those things.”
Bowers said that while some would look at the tight end handoffs as a trick play, it’s just a part of the standard offense for Georgia. He’s able to carry the ball, as are several of the receivers. That makes sure to keep the defense guessing on what might be coming.
Surprisingly, through a third of the regular season, Bowers actually has more rushing touchdowns than he does receiving scores. Last year the Napa, Calif. native set a school-record for receiving scores in a season with 13. After four games this year, he’s got only got two to his three touchdowns on the ground.
“I wouldn’t believe them,” Bowers said with a smile on his face when asked what he would tell somebody before the season if they had told him that stat. “It’s just kind of worked out that way. Whatever happens happens. I just take what I can get.”
Georgia will continue to count on Bowers offensively as the season goes along with the next opportunity coming on the road at Missouri. The game against the Tigers kicks off a stretch of seven straight SEC games for the Bulldogs between now and the final week of the regular season when they’ll take on Georgia Tech. Kickoff time Saturday from Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo. is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
