On Sunday afternoon, the Michigan soccer team made a surprising commitment to transferring graduates from Texas Tech Alan Bowman. Below, we break out four things that stand out to us about Bowman’s career with the Red Raiders and his potential pass in Michigan.
1. Bowman can throw it
It does not take long to investigate Bowman or look at his games to come to this conclusion. At Grapevine High School in metropolitan Dallas, Bowman for In his last three seasons with the Mustangs, he surpassed 9,639 runs, 107 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. That was enough to grab the attention of Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, who also sought, recruited and applied the commitments of three-star prospects such as Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Davis Webb – all set up, albeit would eventually transfer the last two.
With the Red Raiders, Bowman was a quick hit. Bowman had reportedly conquered the locker room with his probability as an early entry and was a second player to start his career, but started shortly thereafter when McLane Carter came down with an ankle injury. However, Bowman immediately took over the task and garnered praise for his long-range-and-in-traffic throws – despite unconventional mechanics – and even received a Heisman hype. He threw for 605 yards and five touchdowns against Houston in his second start, beating Oklahoma State no. 15 on the road with 397 yards upset the following week. Later in the season, he completed 21 of 26 passes for 227 yards and two counts in the half as he helped Texas Tech take a halftime lead over Oklahoma.
In his career, Bowman has thrown in 19 games for 5,260 yards and 33 touchdowns. Interception is an area to look at (he has 17), but he was accurate and completed 67.0 percent of his 713 passes. Texas Tech is known for having ridiculous pass stats, but that does not diminish Bowman’s pass ability.
2. Injuries affected his career in Lubbock
In a memorable game against West Virginia, his fourth career series, Bowman was trapped on a hit that eventually broke a rib and partially collapsed his lung. A player known for his toughness who played a second half of a high school playoff game with a broken shoulder, Bowman was selected back into action less than a month later. In the aforementioned first half against Oklahoma, Bowman hit a hit on a scramble that collapsed his lung again. This time, his season was over after appearing in eight games.
In the off-season, Texas Tech changed coach, but Bowman resumed his starting position and considered the future for the Red Raiders. But in just his third game of the 2019 season, he sustained a broken collarbone that ended his season and asked him to put on a red shirt. This past fall, Bowman suffered an ankle injury in a loss to Texas, although it sounds like his health was not due to his health. He eventually returned to start the last three games of the Red Raiders.
This is a lot of hospital visits and rehabilitation in three seasons. And if you ask Texas Tech fans, Bowman never returned to the form he showed before picking up injuries. As a result, Bowman can be remembered for what could have been more in Lubbock than he actually accomplished on the field.
Bowman’s toughness must be endearing
In addition to three of the above injuries, Bowman developed a reputation for his gravel while in Lubbock. His daring performances against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma as a first-year presentation stand out the most, but Bowman also faced every challenge with every conviction. Even last fall, one who saw his popularity in Lubbock fizzle, Bowman was caught, but kept business long enough to win his job back, leading the Red Raiders to two wins and a six-point loss in Oklahoma State in led their last three games. after a 1-5 start to the season.
In interviews, Bowman comes across as entertaining and confident, but also uncompromising. He’s seen a lot in his career, and he keeps getting up again. He is not expected to arrive in Michigan until the spring, but that is a trait the Wolverines have even acknowledged they need this year. Even if Bowman never sees the field, Bowman can make an impact in the locker room if the fit fits.
4. Start is not out of the question
Bowman, who was able to obtain his degree within 3.5 years, was considered the number 8 transfer quarter by 247Sports in this cycle. In terms of context, Joe Milton was nominated by the same team of national analysts as no. 12 judged and Dylan McCaffrey was not one of the 45 fullbacks. He is immediately eligible and will remain for three years. Bowman wants and should not carry the same hype as Michigan’s last transfer quarterback, Shea Patterson. He was ranked in his third season with one of the Big 12’s worst teams and is far from any NFL draft talk.
Realistically, the Wolverines are unlikely to land such a player, with Cade McNamara and five-star rookie JJ McCarthy also set to start work. When the Wolverines entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, they looked for players who could compete comfortably for a job, with experience to counter McNamara and McCarthy’s lack thereof, and a veteran who could handle and digest a quick installation in case of a surprise injury.
Bowman’s addition does not seem entirely for depth purposes, after all. As a recruiter in the heart of the newly-happy Texas, he was targeted by one of the world’s more respected quarterback judges. As a freshman, he has strong numbers against the power-five competition. His dropout with Texas Tech could be justified by injuries, the Red Raiders’ offensive line and a coaching change. Jim Harbaugh took a relegated quarterback with gas in the tank in 2015, and Jake Rudock returned the favor with a 10-3 season.
Let us be clear, the expectations for Michigan in 2021 should remain unchanged. If Bowman becomes a top five starter in the Big Ten, he will prove he has a ton of people wrong. Even winning the starting position will come as a surprise to just about everyone. But on Sunday, Michigan landed a talented, experienced quarterback who needs a change in scenery, which is nothing.