Posted by Jesse Bartolis on March 15th, 2010 in
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Measurables
Born May 28th 1988. 6′1, 230 pounds. Junior.
4.72 40. 26 reps of 225 at the combine.
Stats (ESPN.com)
Career: 214 tackles, 2 FF, 3 INT 8 sacks.
2009: 93 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT (10 games)
Big Games:
13 tackles vs Iowa
@ Michigan 11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
vs Ohio State 9 tackles
vs Indiana 12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
@ Michigan State 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed
LSU (Capital One Bowl Game) 9 tackles.
Bowman was very productive this year. 93 tackles in 10 games is a lot, he had one game with 5 tackles and then no other game with less than 7 tackles.
Scouting Reports
ESPN’s Scouts Inc
| Production |
3 |
2006: Redshirted. 2007: (9/0) 16 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF. 2008: (13/10) 106 tackles, 16.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR, 2 FF; First-team All-Big Ten. |
| Height-Weight-Speed |
3 |
A bit undersized but has an excellent build along with above-average top-end speed. |
| Durability |
2 |
Missed the 2007 Iowa and Wisconsin games after suffering a sprained ankle against Illinois. Limited by a groin injury during the first three games of 2009. |
| Intangibles |
4 |
Pleaded guilty after being involved in an off-campus fight during the fall of 2007. Suspended from the team for the ensuing spring and placed on probation. Violated probation this past April and was sentenced to an additional 12 months on probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Has suffered hardships off the field, including the passing of his father and high school coach in a six-month span. |
| Outside Linebacker specific Traits |
| Instincts/Recognition |
2 |
Strong overall diagnostic skills. Finds and reacts to the ball and quickly fills downhill. Puts himself in good position to make plays and rarely takes false steps. Shows a good feel for sniffing out screens and draws. Can be overaggressive with his run fits and as a result is suscpetible to play-action at times. |
| Strength/Toughness |
3 |
Not an area of strength. Appears to have good upper-body strength but his narrow frame brings up concerns about his point-of-attack skills. Can be engulfed by bigger offensive lineman when caught in phone booth situations. Does not shy away from contact, though, and has a high motor and consistently finishes plays to the whistle. |
| Range vs. Run |
1 |
Possesses sideline-to-sideline range. Displays strong change-of-direction skills. Closing burst is exceptional and he rarely allows running backs to turn the corner to his side of defense. Also takes good angles to the ball and wades through trash well in pursuit. |
| Tackling |
2 |
Reliable wrap-up tackler. Doesn’t consistently run through tackles but flashes ability to deliver violent and explosive strike. Does a good job of breaking down in the open field and securing the tackle. |
| 3rd Down Capabilities |
2 |
Excels in coverage. Shows good awareness in zone and does a nice job of locating and getting into underneath throwing lanes. Shows the ability to match up and run with tight ends and backs in man coverage. Ball skills are above-average. Not much of a pass rusher at this point. Does not time up blitzes well and lacks adequate power to run though blockers. |
Draftace.com
| Strengths: |
| An elite natural athlete. Has the speed to make plays in pursuit. Has the speed and agility to stay with most tight ends in coverage. Looks good in zone coverage; does a nice job reading the quarterback. A fundamentally sound tackler that can also deliver the big hit. |
| Weaknesses: |
| Slightly undersized for most systems. Best suited for outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense; specifically a Tampa-2 which limits his options. Missed time with an ankle injury in 2007. Missed 3 games with a groin injury in 2009. Also time as a senior in high school with a shoulder injury. Serious character concerns. Suspended during the 2008 offseason for his role in a fight on campus. |
| Comments: |
| Bowman has a specific skill set that will make him very attractive to certain teams. However, his lack of height and overall bulk make a bad fit for anyone that runs a 3-4 defense. On top of that, his history of nagging injuries and off-field issues are sure to scare away some teams. He has the skills of a potential 1st-round pick, but he could easily fall as low as the 3rd round. |
CBS NFL Draft Scout
2010 NFL DRAFT SCOUT PRE-COMBINE TOP 64: 50. *Navorro Bowman ??? OLB, Penn State, 6-1, 232, 2: Shows the instincts, quickness and ability that qualify him as an excellent, albeit short, pro linebacker candidate. But off-field issues have been a concern as he was suspended for two games and received one year of probation and 100 hours of community service after a fight in October 2007 and then received another year of probation for violating the terms of the original sentence. – Frank Cooney, USA TODAY/NFL Draft Scout
02/17/2010 – PRO POTENTIAL: LB Navorro Bowman – Linebacker U has produced some standout players during the past decade, but Bowman could become Penn State’s first first-round selection at the position since mentor LaVar Arrington in 2000. Always around the ball and solid in pass coverage, he could improve his stock with a solid showing at the NFL Combine
| Bowman missed most of his senior season in high school with a shoulder injury, but that didn’t prevent coach Joe Paterno from seeking out the Maryland all-state pick as a junior (165 tackles, 1,200 yards rushing, 22 touchdowns). Four years later (including a redshirt season in 2006), Bowden has opted to leave for the NFL with one year of eligibility remaining.Bowman played in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2007, missing three contests with an ankle sprain, and earned more playing time as the season progressed (16 tackles, 2.5 for loss, sack, forced fumble, blocked kick).Bowman didn’t start until the fifth game in the ‘08 season. He was named first-team All-Big Ten, leading the team with 106 tackles, including 16.5 for loss and four sacks. He was named first-team all-conference again after the 2009 season, making 93 tackles, 17 for loss, and two sacks, even after missing three games and having limited effectiveness at times because of a groin injury. He also displayed excellent coverage skills over the past two seasons (three interceptions, 10 pass breakups).Off-field issues have prevented Bowman from reaching his full potential. He was suspended two games and received one year probation and 100 hours of community service after helping teammate Chris Baker beat up a man during a party in October 2007. Bowman received another year of probation after violating the terms of the original sentence by admitting he had done none of the 100 hours of service and smoked marijuana.On the field, few players in this draft come downhill faster and explode into their tackles as well as Bowman. Even fewer have gone through the adversity Bowman has over the past three years. If given a clean bill of health by doctors and strong recommendation by his Penn State coaches, a team might look past his lack of height, troubled past and injury history to select him in the early rounds of the draft. |
| Analysis |
| Read & React: Smart, with a great nose for the ball. Reacts quickly to inside or stretch runs, recognizes misdirection plays and screens, and collapses on receivers in a hurry when dropped into coverage. Will bite on play-action at times because of his aggressive nature and quickness.Run defense: Excellent chase and hustle against the run, closes on the ball quickly from sideline-to-sideline. Changes direction well, breaks down in space and attacks the ball. Attacks run plays so fast it looks as though he’s on a run blitz even when that’s not the case. Knifes through traffic and sidesteps fullback blocks inside as well as any linebacker in the draft. Flows through trash and finds the ball when lined up between the tackles. Has the upper-body strength to punch and prevent a lineman latching onto him in space, but must become more consistent getting off tight end blocks on the line and at the second level. Gets engulfed by better tackles at the point of attack.Pass defense: Cognizant defender in zone coverage. Quick and fluid in his drop — gets deep enough to prevent first downs. Gives up no extra yardage when receivers catch a ball in his area or when he sniffs out a screen. Good hands for the interception and can make a play after the catch with fine speed, vision and elusiveness for a defensive player. Can leap to knock down passes to receivers behind him or when rushing the quarterback. Runs with receivers and tight ends down the seam, although his lack of height puts him at a disadvantage.Tackling: Rare tackling ability in space. Breaks down and is extremely difficult to elude once he’s in the area. Drops his hips and plants the ballcarrier whenever possible. Strong arms and hands. Creates turnovers by getting his hands on the ball or wrapping arms around the ballcarrier. Uses hustle and aggression to overcome his limited reach.Pass Rush/Blitz: Tough to stop when coming off the edge because of his closing speed, flexibility to turn the corner and determination. Agile enough to avoid running back and tight end blocks when blitzing and is capable of bull rushing or powering through the shoulder of interior linemen up the middle. Hits with a purpose when he sniffs out a quarterback rollout or bootleg.Intangibles: Missed three games with a groin injury in 2009. Well-liked teammate with a high football IQ. Character concerns could hurt his draft stock. Lost his father (blood clot) and high school coach (car accident) within about six months during the 2008 season. Father of Navorro, Jr., born in the summer of 2009. Graduated in December with a degree in Crime, Law and Justice. |
2009: Missed three games with a groin injury.
2007: Missed three games with an ankle injury.
Big Board Rankings
CBS Draft Scout 106
Draft Board Insider 55
New Era Scouting 75
ESPN Scouts Inc 48
Fantasy Football Toolbox 48
Drafttek.com 43
Where the Mocks Have him Falling
Walterfootball.com 2nd round pick #64 New Orleans Saints
Matt McGuire (walterfootball.com) 2nd round pick #64 New Orleans Saints
Drafttek.com 2nd round pick #64 New Orleans Saints
Well, here’s a consensus.
Bartolis Summary and Final Verdict
Navorro Bowman is a produtive linebacker at a Big time college program who has good athletisicm. Bowman is most likely to play outside linebacker in the N.F.L. becuase he can get after the quarterback and he is not a big bruising run defender.
Bowman also has had more than one “character concern incidents” which might hurt his stock.
Bowman is a good Football player with good athletic ability and should be successful in the N.F.L.
Bartolis Final Verdict
I like Bowman’s game. He’s definitely talented, right after the College Football Season ESPN Scouts INC had him ranked in the top 32 on their big Board his value has slipped a little bit since then but he’s still a good player.
Bowman would be a steal if he is available in the third round, and he’d be an interesting pick in the second round, although it might be a bit of a reach because of some of his off the field behaviors and the fact that he’s missed six games the past two seasons becuase of injuries.
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