husker rob
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article in the OWH tonight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - His modest play and statistics from last season couldn't hide the fact that Zack Bowman was still a 6-foot-2, 195-pound cornerback who could run the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds.
At 6-foot-2 and with a 40-yard dash time of less than 4.4 seconds, Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman has grabbed the attention of many NFL experts. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper lists Bowman among his top 25 prospects for next year's draft.
So when the 2006 NFL draft wrapped up and the gurus started looking ahead to 2007, Bowman immediately found himself high on some lists, assuring the Nebraska senior that this football season will be anything but boring.
"I feel a little pressure on my shoulders, knowing that they're watching," Bowman said. "But I'm not too much worried about it. I'm just going to go out there and play my game."
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper already has ranked Bowman among his top 25 prospects for the next draft. Others have agreed that he is a potential first-round pick.
Bowman shrugs when asked what might have pushed him up the charts. Maybe his play against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl, when he matched up well against Jason Avant and the Wolverines' other receivers, and made a nifty interception in the end zone.
"Going up against some of the best receivers in the country, and hanging with those guys and keeping them to the minimum, that opened up a lot of people's eyes," Bowman said. "And not only for me, but for Cortney (Grixby), too."
Bowman's own definition of an eye-opening experience has changed for the better.
A year ago, he was a junior college transfer who didn't quite know what was in store for him. Despite his lofty credentials, he got off to a slow start, battled some hamstring problems and didn't crack the starting lineup until the latter third of the season.
He eventually found his stride as he figured out the Husker defense and the calls on the field. His technique improved as he understood that he could no longer get by on just athletic ability.
"You just see a lot more of his confidence coming out now in his personality," NU safety Andrew Shanle said. "Now he's teaching players, whereas it was all new to him last year. He's just one of those guys who always has a smile on his face and is always ready to play."
Asked if he would turn back the clock and start last year over, if possible, Bowman paused and then said: "No. I learned from my mistakes then, and that makes me where I'm at right now."
Reporters didn't overwhelm Bowman at Big 12 media days, instead surrounding Husker quarterback Zac Taylor and defensive end Adam Carriker, who like Bowman is a potential NFL first-round pick. But NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said before spring practice that Bowman, based on his physical traits and talents, might be the Husker most likely to turn heads this season.
In his junior season, four of his 11 pass breakups came in the final two regular-season games. In the Alamo Bowl, Bowman and Titus Brothers pushed the Michigan ball-carrier out of bounds on the crazy final play.
As a senior, Bowman will need to anchor the secondary along with Grixby as Shanle and Tierre Green settle in as new starters at safety. Considering the strength of NU's front seven, those four players might determine how far the Huskers' defense can take them.
"Our defense can go a long way, man," Bowman said. "The main thing that I think we need to do is stay healthy. We need to have everybody for the whole season."
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - His modest play and statistics from last season couldn't hide the fact that Zack Bowman was still a 6-foot-2, 195-pound cornerback who could run the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds.
At 6-foot-2 and with a 40-yard dash time of less than 4.4 seconds, Nebraska cornerback Zack Bowman has grabbed the attention of many NFL experts. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper lists Bowman among his top 25 prospects for next year's draft.
So when the 2006 NFL draft wrapped up and the gurus started looking ahead to 2007, Bowman immediately found himself high on some lists, assuring the Nebraska senior that this football season will be anything but boring.
"I feel a little pressure on my shoulders, knowing that they're watching," Bowman said. "But I'm not too much worried about it. I'm just going to go out there and play my game."
ESPN analyst Mel Kiper already has ranked Bowman among his top 25 prospects for the next draft. Others have agreed that he is a potential first-round pick.
Bowman shrugs when asked what might have pushed him up the charts. Maybe his play against Michigan in the Alamo Bowl, when he matched up well against Jason Avant and the Wolverines' other receivers, and made a nifty interception in the end zone.
"Going up against some of the best receivers in the country, and hanging with those guys and keeping them to the minimum, that opened up a lot of people's eyes," Bowman said. "And not only for me, but for Cortney (Grixby), too."
Bowman's own definition of an eye-opening experience has changed for the better.
A year ago, he was a junior college transfer who didn't quite know what was in store for him. Despite his lofty credentials, he got off to a slow start, battled some hamstring problems and didn't crack the starting lineup until the latter third of the season.
He eventually found his stride as he figured out the Husker defense and the calls on the field. His technique improved as he understood that he could no longer get by on just athletic ability.
"You just see a lot more of his confidence coming out now in his personality," NU safety Andrew Shanle said. "Now he's teaching players, whereas it was all new to him last year. He's just one of those guys who always has a smile on his face and is always ready to play."
Asked if he would turn back the clock and start last year over, if possible, Bowman paused and then said: "No. I learned from my mistakes then, and that makes me where I'm at right now."
Reporters didn't overwhelm Bowman at Big 12 media days, instead surrounding Husker quarterback Zac Taylor and defensive end Adam Carriker, who like Bowman is a potential NFL first-round pick. But NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said before spring practice that Bowman, based on his physical traits and talents, might be the Husker most likely to turn heads this season.
In his junior season, four of his 11 pass breakups came in the final two regular-season games. In the Alamo Bowl, Bowman and Titus Brothers pushed the Michigan ball-carrier out of bounds on the crazy final play.
As a senior, Bowman will need to anchor the secondary along with Grixby as Shanle and Tierre Green settle in as new starters at safety. Considering the strength of NU's front seven, those four players might determine how far the Huskers' defense can take them.
"Our defense can go a long way, man," Bowman said. "The main thing that I think we need to do is stay healthy. We need to have everybody for the whole season."
