In our fourth installment of GM Sports Media’s college athlete of the week in 2023, Oklahoma Sooners football player and Ryan graduate Billy Bowman Jr. is our latest winner.
College athletes must have played for a high school in DFW.
Bowman, who starred for the Raiders in high school, played a huge role in OU’s 34-30 win over #3 Texas in the Red River game on Saturday in Dallas.
He was second on the team with 11 total tackles, made six solo tackles, broke up one pass attempt and was key on a Sooners interception in the end zone in the first quarter. OU’s defense made two picks in the opening period.
In two previous seasons in Norman, Bowman played in 22 games with 16 starts and made 82 tackles and three interceptions in 2022. Bowman has 23 tackles this season with two interceptions.
Bowman, who’s a junior, was a 4-star player and highly recruited out of high school. He was #39 overall in the country and regarded as the #2 athlete by 247Sports. During his time at Ryan, he played both ways and was a 2021 Under Armour All-American and 2020 MaxPreps All-American.
He caught 86 passes as a senior with 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 158 yards and four touchdowns. On defense he posted 32 tackles, four interceptions and six pass deflections. Ryan went 15-0 and won a state title.
Past Winners
Quinn Ewers (SLC)/Kyndal Stowers (Guyer)
Chandler Rogers (Lake Ridge)/Kate Lang (Keller)
Lily Bickley (Eaton)
