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Brock Bowers named finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•about 10 hours•

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Brock Bowers
Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Former Georgia tight end Brock Bowers was announced as a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year on Thursday after a phenomenal first season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Bowers broke rookie records for the most receiving yards by a tight end and most receptions regardless of position as he finished off the campaign with 112 catches for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns. He also already holds the Raiders franchise record for most receptions in a single season.

Bowers, who landed on the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams for his performance, is joined by Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (LSU), New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (LSU), Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (Oregon) and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU).

The outstanding season in the NFL is just a continuation of what Bowers did at the collegiate level. In three seasons at Georgia, the Napa, Calif. native reset the record book for the Bulldogs. Bowers led UGA in receiving each of his three seasons on campus – despite playing a limited number of games in 2023 due to injury.

As a freshman, he caught 56 passes for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns, a single-season record for touchdown receptions by any pass catcher in Georgia program history. Four times in 2021 did he top the 100-yard mark including an impressive 10-catch, 139-yard day in the SEC Championship against Alabama. Bowers also had five games with multiple trips to the end zone including three versus Vanderbilt (two receiving, one rushing). He earned SEC Freshman of the Year as well as a pair of national Freshman of the Year awards (Shaun Alexander, Football Writers Association), plus All-American nods from USA Today (1st), ESPN (1st), The Athletic (1st) and the Associated Press (2nd).

A second season in Athens was even more impressive for Bowers, winning the first of his two career Mackey Awards for the nation’s top tight end. Helping Georgia win a second straight National Championship, Bowers brought in 63 balls for 942 yards, surpassing the 1,000-yard total mark when you add in his nine rushes for 109 yards. All together, he scored ten touchdowns as a sophomore to only further establish himself in College Football greatness and Georgia lore.

Bowers was unanimously selected as an All-American in 2023 despite a shortened season due to an ankle injury that would require tightrope surgery midseason. He missed just three games and returned to the field in just a matter of weeks. Even playing in just 10 games, Bowers matched his 56-catch season from his 15-game freshman campaign. He posted a career-high 157 yards against Auburn as part of a spectacular three-game stretch in late September and early October that saw him go for at least 120 yards in each outing (UAB, Auburn, Kentucky) and score four touchdowns. Bowers found the end zone twice more after his injury, suffered just a week after the game against Kentucky, and would go on to be selected 13th overall by the Raiders in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Winners of the NFL awards including MVP, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year and Coaches (Head & Assistant) of the Year will be announced during the 14th annual NFL Honors ceremony on February 6th, airing live at 9:00 p.m. ET on FOX and NFL Network.

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