Sep 3, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers (19) carries the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter of the Chick-fil-A kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Brock Bowers could be the best player in the entire country next season, according to at least 1 ESPN analyst.
On Thursday, ESPN published a roundtable discussion amongst its top analysts. The group covered topics such as freshmen to keep an eye on, early Heisman frontrunner and candidates for the best player in the country.
ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg nominated Bowers, who is coming off of a brilliant sophomore campaign. Here’s some of Rittenberg’s analysis:
He’s almost impossible to stop on a consistent basis despite being the most consistent receiving option for the Bulldogs. Bowers strikes me as a player who should already be in the NFL but has to stick around the college level for another season. He’ll be working with a new quarterback this fall, but I expect another huge season for the Mackey Award winner.
Bowers is coming off of a season where he caught 63 passes for 942 yards and 7 touchdowns. After just 2 seasons in Athens, he’s already up to 20 touchdowns in his career.
Playing with a new quarterback next season could be a challenge, but Bowers is the exact type of offensive weapon that inexperienced quarterbacks would love to be able to rely on.
Bowers is projected to be a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Playing with a new QB in 2023 could be a boon for Bowers, he could be the safety blanket for the new QB, the go-to receiver.
Where as Bennett was comfortable with all the receivers and had a rapport with all the receivers maybe the new QB leans on Bowers more.
The Man called Mertz has more talent in his little toe than Bowers has in his whole body. Bowers is nothing but a pathetic Mertz wanna be. I even have it from reliable sources he is considering changing his name to Mertz Mertzers. He will win NOTHING!
Mertz is gonna be Atlas and shoulder the load for the Gators. He is He-Man personified. He will take down the evil Skeletor that is Kirby Smart.
Just knowing Mertz exists keeps me up at night. Imagine him Mertzing all over the field in all his Mertz glory.
The thing that worries me most about UF is all that infrastructure Sunbelt Billy has built at the I-75 Truckstop.
All the smart people it’s not about recruiting or developing players, it’s all about infrastructure and Sunbelt Billy has infrastructure coming out of his ying yang
Brock Bowers will undoubtedly be one of the top returning players in the country, if not the top one.
There are others who will be considered as the new season gets going...Malik Nabers, Jayden Daniels, Blake Corum, Caleb Williams, Jared Verse, KJ Jefferson among others...
You forgot to mention Mertz the Magnificent…⬆️
Definitely Jayden. One more year of seasoning and he might be on some early watch lists.
The biggest challenge Brock will face will be that opposing defenses will make him a key player to stop. Happened a bit this last year once opposing teams had a season's worth of film to study.
I think that happened a good bit this last year. The real test will be if the other players on this offense can keep the defense honest. Brock gets used in misdirection lots of times and he pulls defenders with him and Kenny McIntosh and Darnell Washington were able to get open looks and open run lanes off of that.
I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of 12 and even 13 packages featuring Brock and Delp on the field at the same time. The defensive attention on Bowers will help others, but Oscar could be the biggest beneficiary. I have a feeling he’s going to announce himself to the CFB world in ‘23.
I don't think that was a big challenge though this past year. Monken just simply schemed for other players to a lot of a success.
I think the opposite will happen this year. As someone else mentioned, I think Bowers might become a safety blanket and his targets might go up, but I think with that he won't look as good as he normally does because there will be some ill-advised passes sent his way.
He is as good a candidate as any and better than most. i will be glad when he moves to the no fun league.
The ESPN guy has a serious Bowers crush going on. Good player but best?
In two seasons, Brock Bowers has 119 receptions for 1,824 yards and 20 touchdowns. That as a true sophomore, who didn’t get the benefit of a senior year in HS, due to – cancellation of the season. He’s been timed at 22 MPH on GPS. He’s also a good blocker from his position.
Bowers is much more than a typical tight end. Easily one of the top players in CFB.
Add hands like glue and the ability to catch the ball at virtually any angle or position, regardless of coverage, and the kid is lethal in a way we just don’t see often.
Having avoided the sophomore slump….a junior slump?
Nah, Brock friggin Bowers is evergreen.