Projecting the Future: Drae Bowles

by Brad Shepard on Jan 16, 2012 8:00 PM EST in Tennessee Volunteers Recruiting

DRAE BOWLES, 6-1, 205 WR JACKSON, TN. [JACKSON CHRISTIAN HS]

Ratings: Rivals 4* wide receiver No. 127 overall player No. 3 player in Tennessee, Scout 3* No. 48 wide receiver, ESPN 4* No. 15 wide receiver No. 101 overall player No. 2 in Tennessee, 247 4* No. 25 wide receiver No. 212 overall No. 4 in Tennessee. Chose UT over Vanderbilt, Auburn, Arkansas, Cal, Cincinnati, Duke, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, Notre Dame and others.

STRENGTHS: Bowles is an in-state kid who wanted to come to Tennessee, committed early and never wavered through the process, even when Charlie Baggett was let go. That's a strength to me, but it's just one of many for Bowles. He is very physical and has a nice size-speed combo. He is so strong that some coaches wanted him to be a safety or linebacker on the next level. He has nice speed for his size and perhaps his best trait is his stick-em hands. He is very thick and has a great frame. He's going to be a real good one before his days are done. He really showed out at the U.S. Army All-America game, and though he isn't flashy, he is simply a quality all-around talent.

NEEDS WORK: We talked about him having good speed for his size, and 4.5 certainly qualifies, but he isn't the greatest route runner with that speed. He needs to learn to be quicker to get where he's going on timing routes, but he really didn't have to in high school. His school also didn't throw too much this past year, so he's going to be a bit rusty.

CREDENTIALS: Participant in the prestigious U.S. Army All-America game, drew rave reviews throughout the week almost to the same level as five-star Stefon Diggs. Even though his team didn't throw a lot this year, Bowles was still an All-State selection for the second time. As a junior, he had 58 catches for 1,102 yards and eight touchdowns. This season, he finished with 31 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns. As a junior, he also had 57 tackles with five sacks and three interceptions. He made the Mobile Press-Register's top 150 prospects in the Southeast. He had 14 total touchdowns as a junior, played all over the field and made exceptional grades.

OPTIMISTIC CEILING: When I watched Bowles' film, he reminded me of somebody in particular. I hate throwing names around out there like this, but when I saw that ESPN reminded them of this guy, too, I thought, "Well, maybe he really can be that good." That guy is Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant. The comparison is certainly one to watch for, and Bowles has incredible hands like Bryant -- without the baggage. Rivals says Bowles reminds them of Mike Wallace, but he isn't a burner like Wallace. I think Bowles can compete for playing time immediate -- though he probably won't have to -- and he'll certainly be a starter and a major contributor for several years at UT. I think he'll play in the NFL someday, too.

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Hands

If his hands are really that good, with the size and speed combo like that, if he gets good at route running he will be a 3rd down terror. And if Tennessee gets Pig Howard with speed like that it would be hell on defenses.

by docrok on Jan 16, 2012 8:20 PM EST reply actions

I'm telling you, people forget about Drae

He’s a bit of the “lost man” with Croom, Pig and the flirtation with Coradarrelle, but I think Bowles is going to be the most consistent of all three. He was raved about all week at the USAAG, and that is the best of the best.

As far as speed goes, he’s listed at 4.5. But one thing that was encouraging to me is throughout my reading and research for this, I saw where he played gunner on the punt team during All-America week. If that’s the case, he has to be pretty stinking fast. I’m sure his tackling ability helped, too.

In a Chavis scheme, he’d be an awesome OLB.

Holdin' it down on enemy grounds.

Anti-Snail on offense; Give me a slobberknocker, or give me death!

by Brad Shepard on Jan 16, 2012 8:38 PM EST reply actions

Will the real Brad Shepard please stand up?

by Caban on Jan 16, 2012 8:39 PM EST up reply actions

Something is over my head again Caban

What did I say?

Holdin' it down on enemy grounds.

Anti-Snail on offense; Give me a slobberknocker, or give me death!

by Brad Shepard on Jan 16, 2012 11:32 PM EST up reply actions

heh

http://www.metrolyrics.com/forgot-about-dre-lyrics-eminem.html

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/therealslimshady.html

by Caban on Jan 17, 2012 12:58 AM EST up reply actions

nsfw btw

by Caban on Jan 17, 2012 12:59 AM EST up reply actions

Ah yes.

Wish I was hip.

Holdin' it down on enemy grounds.

Anti-Snail on offense; Give me a slobberknocker, or give me death!

by Brad Shepard on Jan 17, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

it was definitely a remarkable coincidence...

Foget about Drae…

Forgot about Dre

I’ll have to remember that for future reference… would make a pretty good byline.

by Caban on Jan 17, 2012 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

Chavis scheme?

by PdxVol on Jan 17, 2012 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

Chavis liked small, fast OLBs. Bowles would have fit that scheme

There’s no chance for him to be an OLB in our defensive scheme now. That was my point. I loved him as a linebacker, but I think he’ll be a better WR.

Holdin' it down on enemy grounds.

Anti-Snail on offense; Give me a slobberknocker, or give me death!

by Brad Shepard on Jan 17, 2012 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Now days Bradley Shepard wanna talk like he got somethin' to say

But nothing comes out when he moves his lips, cuz he’s on a computer. His typing told us that we forgot about Drae.

I like Tennessee and Vanderbilt. There aren't many like me, and they're probably better off for it.

by VolnVA on Jan 17, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Golden.

Holdin' it down on enemy grounds.

Anti-Snail on offense; Give me a slobberknocker, or give me death!

by Brad Shepard on Jan 17, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

No, that's Trae

Zing!

I like Tennessee and Vanderbilt. There aren't many like me, and they're probably better off for it.

by VolnVA on Jan 18, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

Whoa, this kid went to JCM?

That’s close to my home town, and in the town where I went to school for my undergrad. Same place Jabari Greer is from (but a different high school).

"Do the Titans have a miracle left in them in what has been a magical season to this point? If they do, they need it now. Christie kicks it high and short. Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25; he dishes it back to Wycheck; he throws it across the field to Dyson. 30, 40, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5, endzone...touchdown, Titans! There are no flags on the field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!"

by TennesseeTyrants on Jan 16, 2012 8:42 PM EST reply actions

Where did you to undergrad?

I went to Lambuth and still live in Jackson

"Albert hits good pitches hard and bad pitches even harder. And when he gets in the batter's box, if you pray, then you start praying. And if you don't pray, you think about starting."--Brian Bannister

Trevor Rosenthal Update (as of end of regular season)
120 1/3IP, 133 K, 52 BB/HBP, 55 ER, 7 HR, 3.04 FIP
Postseason: 2 Starts- 15 IP, 9 H, 10 K, 2 BB, 3 ER, 19:10 GO:AO

by VolsnCards5 on Jan 16, 2012 9:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Union University

by TennesseeTyrants on Jan 16, 2012 11:31 PM EST up reply actions

I had a friend from high school who went there

’09 grad

If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk

by Incipient_Senescence on Jan 16, 2012 11:49 PM EST up reply actions