Bowman Chooses Gridiron at Happy Valley
Ron Bailey, Publisher
The Bowman's at Navarro's Signing Event
February 3, 2006 – Navarro Bowman was a high school student-athlete with options. Since enrolling at Suitland High School as a freshman three and a half years ago, he was a standout on the hardwood and football field, creating scholarship interest in both sports. Bowman also remained focused academically, thereby ensuring his NCAA qualification status; thus no college shied away from him, due to the possibility of his not being eligible.
Well, after mulling multiple offers from colleges in both sports, Navarro has accepted Penn State University’s offer. In fact, he has graduated from high school early, and is currently attending classes in Happy Valley – Penn State’s idyllic rural campus.
When reached over the holiday season, Bowman shared his reasoning for choosing Penn State. “I picked them pretty much because the athletic program is up, and because of their high graduation rate” he said. That emphasis on academics produced 47 honor roll football players last season. Navarro also felt that with Penn State’s linebacker corps containing a high number of upperclassman, he could secure playing time, soon.
A lot has been made of Penn State’s D.C. area recruiting efforts more or less snowballing with the signing of Derek Williams (formerly of Eleanor Roosevelt High School). Bowman acknowledged that Williams did play a role in his considering Penn State, as did Justin King’s (a Pittsburgh native he has a friendship with) presence on the squad.
Now that he has committed to PSU, Navarro has decided to recruit others, much like Williams did him; Bowman revealed at the time that he had been in contact with another Prince George’s County football star, Antonio Logan-El. It is no telling how successful he was, but Logan-El recently chose Penn State as well.
Navarro Taking a Respite on the Field
As mentioned above, Bowman eschewed the final two quarters of his senior year in high school, enrolling as a freshman at Penn State during the winter semester. Such a move enables him to immerse himself academically earlier, while also participating in spring football. In the process, he is forgoing what many say is one of the happiest times in a young persons life.
Navarro acknowledges the sacrifice, but feels it is more than worth it. “It’s kind of hard” he said, as “You want to finish out your four years, but you have to sacrifice” to achieve goals”.
According to his football coach at Suitland, Nick Lynch, Navarro’s early enrollment at Penn State will be beneficial for Bowman. Though Lynch opined “I don’t think that’s for everybody”, he does feel “in his case, he’s ready”. It is Suitland’s talented coach’s belief the early start on college life will facilitate Navarro’s acclimation to collegiate life, academics, and athletics.
While a Suitland Ram, Bowman constantly displayed a work ethic that was infectious to younger players in Suitland’s basketball and football programs. After saying “Sometimes, you have a kid that is a two sport star, but they don’t have the commitment to really excel”, Lynch would reveal Bowman didn’t follow that mold. “Navarro was not like that. There was no down time with him”, said Lynch.
It has also been the director of Suitland’s powerhouse football program observation that many times, two sport participants take some time off between participating in and training for sports, like basketball and football, whose seasons may slightly overlap. Not so with Navarro. “Right after the basketball season, he was in the weight room (training for football), and right after football, he joined the basketball team” said Lynch. According to him, that “It was important for the young kids to see that” – and doing so created an infectious positive work ethic.
Expect Bowman to play linebacker at the school dubbed “Linebacker U”. He’s currently weighs 225lbs, and is looking forward to working with his new teammates on the field. Navarro will take his hard-nosed intensity to Happy Valley with him, and that includes fearing no one. “All I need is to get hit by one of them”, thereby unleashing his competitive juices, he said.
When the young man was a freshman at Suitland, his older brother, Travis, was a source of inspiration for him. Navarro informed Travis that he would make varsity as a freshman, and he made good on that claim. During the course of his initial high school season, Bowman would be “moved up” to compete with the older student-athletes. He ended up playing every official game at Suitland, with the varsity squad.
Coach Lynch recalled the moment he and his coaching staff elevated the young man to varsity. “It was a J.V. (junior varsity) game with another team in the county. When we saw him in the scrimmage, we thought he would do well in varsity” revealed Lynch. “We were worried if he was ready (as the jump in competition for a young guy could have been detrimental in his development), so we asked him if he was. He said ‘I’m ready’, and we moved him up”.
Navarro leaves Suitland feeling he’s a better young man for having attended the P.G. County institution. “If I can learn and achieve here, I can learn anywhere” he said. But develop a misconception, as the school benefited from his attendance as well. For three and a half years, Navarro accepted challenges, set an example for other students, and was a leader, on and off the court.
Good luck Navarro. Even if your PG 4A League opponents don’t miss you in round ball or on the gridiron, many people will. Hats off to the young man, from i95Ballerz.com. He’s a young guy that got it done, and will continue to do so.