Brock Bowers claims he's 'not sure' about Orange Bowl, NFL Draft

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia tight end Brock Bowers spent his morning on Tuesday at Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School with members of the Gladiator Youth Football program, representing the NOBULL training brand and gifting the kids a handpicked bag of goodies ahead of the holidays. Presents ranged from a NERF football and a throwing net to an over-the-door basketball hoop, plus of course a t-shirt provided by NOBULL.

Bowers, speaking to media on hand before heading back to the UGA football facility for meetings and practice, shared that he’s still with the team for now, and that he wasn’t sure yet on what’s to come for him in the Orange Bowl and NFL Draft.

“We’ll see. I don’t know,” Bowers said. “I’m around, going to meetings, doing everything with the team. I’m not sure yet. Still have people to talk to and stuff like that.”

A three-time All-American, one of just three in Georgia program history alongside Herschel Walker and David Pollack, and a unanimous selection in 2023 by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News and Walter Camp Football Foundation, Bowers led the Bulldogs in receiving once again in 2023. After setting records as a freshman and topping many of those totals as a sophomore, Bowers hauled in 56 passes for 714 yards and six scores in 10 games this season. He missed time with a high ankle sprain that required surgery but still managed to become the first-ever two-time winner of the Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end.

Bowers has been an impactful player for the Bulldogs since his arrival in Athens in 2021. A freshman out of Napa, Calif., he stepped in and led the team in receiving with with 56 catches, 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. Not only was he named an All-American and National Freshman of the Year for his efforts, but Bowers also managed to break school records for in-season receiving touchdowns regardless of positions, plus catches and yards for a tight end.

Things didn’t slow down for Bowers in 2022 either. An outstanding sophomore season saw him top his totals from the previous year (63 receptions, 942 receiving yards) on his way to All-American nods and Georgia’s first-ever Mackey Award. On top of what Bowers did as a receiver, he also added to his stats as a runner with 109 yards and three trips to the end zone on the ground to bring his total over 1,000 yards and to 10 touchdowns. He once again finished first on the team in all three receiving categories.

And while his impact on the field is obvious, Bowers wanted to make time to try and have an equal impact on the community off of it. At the NOBULL event, Bowers surprised the football players and cheerleaders, spent time with them answering their questions, threw the football around and made sure that every kid left with an individual photo with him as well.

“I think it’s important because it had such an impact on me when I was around that age,” Bowers said about spending his time with the middle schoolers. “Having somebody, something to look up to and work towards, it’s really good for them. I remember, I was a lot younger, I was in like second grade but I met this guy who played safety at the University of Oregon. He was the one who really made me really want to start playing football and play college football.”

“I hope I was a role model,” he added. “It’s a lot of fun to get out there and hopefully make an impact and bring some joy to those kids.”

Georgia is set to take on No. 5 Florida State in the Capital One Orange Bowl later this month in Miami. The Bulldogs, including the projected first round pick Bowers, are in the midst of preparing for the Seminoles before they’ll break for the holidays next week. Arrival in South Florida is expected the evening of December 26th with game day on the 30th.