Brent Bowden
Encyclopedia
Brent Michael Bowden is an American football
punter who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia Tech
.
Bowden has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
.
to Tim and Denise Bowden. He has an older brother, Chris Hall, who was a punter for the Florida State Seminoles
. His younger brother, Grant, is currently a punter at Virginia Tech. He attended Westfield High School
in Fairfax County, Virginia
where he lettered in football
as a punter. In 2003, his junior year, he averaged 40 yards per punt, with a net average of 38 yards, and a long of 64 yards. He had seven punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 11 punts that were fair caught. In 2004, his senior year, he had 29 punts for an average of 44 yards and a net average of 37 yards. His longest punt was 58 yards and he had 16 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line, nine downed inside the 10-yard line and five inside the 5-yard line. Eight of his punts were fair catch
es. He earned Associated Press
and Virginia High School Coaches Association first-team all-state honors after his senior season. He was named first-team All-Concorde District, All-Northern Region and The Washington Post
All-Met. Scout.com ranked him as high as the fourth-best punter in the nation following high school at one point. He has a brother, Jack Bowden, who now resides in Manchester, England.
, Bowden was redshirted and served as the backup punter behind Nic Schmitt. He dressed for all 13 games, but did not see any playing time. In the Maroon-White spring scrimmage, he punted three times for an average of 44.7 yards, a long of 48 yards and had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line.
, Bowden dressed for every game in the season, but, like the previous season, did not play in any of them. He was the backup to Schmitt again at punter and was the backup holder on kicks.
, Bowden became the starting punter for the Hokies after Nic Schmitt graduated. In the season-opener against East Carolina
, Bowden punted six times for an average of 42.3 yards per punt. He had a long of 52, and four of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line. Against LSU
, Bowden punted eight times for an average of 40.1 yards per punt with four punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He had a long of 44. Against Ohio
, Bowden punted seven times for an average of 41.3 yards per punt, with three landing inside the 20-yard line. He had one punt that landed in the endzone for a touchback, and he had a long of 47. In the September 22 game against William & Mary, Bowden punted eight times for an average of 43.1 yards per punt. He had a long of 52 and had three punts landed inside the 20-yard line and one go into the endzone for a touchback. Against North Carolina
, Bowden had seven punts for 302 yards and a 43.1 average, with one punt going 59 yards. He had one touchback and two punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. Against Clemson
on October 6, Bowden punted eight times for a 46.4 average yards per punt. Two punts landed inside the 20-yard line and three were touchbacks. In the October 25 game against Boston College, Bowden punted eight times for a 39.4 average with one touchback and three punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. Against Georgia Tech
, Bowden punted seven times for a 47.1 average and a punt that went 54 yards. Against the Virginia Cavaliers
, Bowden punted four times for an average of 48.3 yards per punt with one punt that went 57 yards. In the ACC Championship Game against Boston College, Bowden punted seven times for a 46.3 punting average with two touchbacks, one punt that landed inside the 20-yard line and one punt that went 54 yards.
by NFLDraftScout.com, and was projected to be drafted in the seventh round. He was invited to participate in the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.
in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
. He was signed to a four-year contract on June 16, 2010. He was released on September 6 to make room for Chris Bryan
. Bowden was re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 8, but was released on September 14.
. He was waived on August 25.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
.
Bowden has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Bowden was born on May 21, 1987 in Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
to Tim and Denise Bowden. He has an older brother, Chris Hall, who was a punter for the Florida State Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. His younger brother, Grant, is currently a punter at Virginia Tech. He attended Westfield High School
Westfield High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)
Westfield High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, west of the Chantilly CDP.It is a part of Fairfax County Public Schools , serving students from the communities including Chantilly and Centreville as well as areas with Herndon addresses in...
in Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
where he lettered in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
as a punter. In 2003, his junior year, he averaged 40 yards per punt, with a net average of 38 yards, and a long of 64 yards. He had seven punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 11 punts that were fair caught. In 2004, his senior year, he had 29 punts for an average of 44 yards and a net average of 37 yards. His longest punt was 58 yards and he had 16 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line, nine downed inside the 10-yard line and five inside the 5-yard line. Eight of his punts were fair catch
Fair catch
A fair catch is a feature of American football and several other codes of football, in which a player attempting to catch a ball kicked by the opposing team – either on a kickoff or punt – is entitled to catch the ball without interference from any member of the kicking team...
es. He earned Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and Virginia High School Coaches Association first-team all-state honors after his senior season. He was named first-team All-Concorde District, All-Northern Region and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
All-Met. Scout.com ranked him as high as the fourth-best punter in the nation following high school at one point. He has a brother, Jack Bowden, who now resides in Manchester, England.
2005 season
In 20052005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2005 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2005 NCAA Division I-A football season...
, Bowden was redshirted and served as the backup punter behind Nic Schmitt. He dressed for all 13 games, but did not see any playing time. In the Maroon-White spring scrimmage, he punted three times for an average of 44.7 yards, a long of 48 yards and had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line.
2006 season
In 20062006 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2006 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Frank Beamer...
, Bowden dressed for every game in the season, but, like the previous season, did not play in any of them. He was the backup to Schmitt again at punter and was the backup holder on kicks.
2007 season
In 20072007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2007 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represented Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season...
, Bowden became the starting punter for the Hokies after Nic Schmitt graduated. In the season-opener against East Carolina
2007 East Carolina Pirates football team
The 2007 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2007-08 and playws their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium...
, Bowden punted six times for an average of 42.3 yards per punt. He had a long of 52, and four of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line. Against LSU
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
, Bowden punted eight times for an average of 40.1 yards per punt with four punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He had a long of 44. Against Ohio
Ohio Bobcats football
The Ohio Bobcats football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Ohio University. The team represents the university as a member of the Mid-American Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision level...
, Bowden punted seven times for an average of 41.3 yards per punt, with three landing inside the 20-yard line. He had one punt that landed in the endzone for a touchback, and he had a long of 47. In the September 22 game against William & Mary, Bowden punted eight times for an average of 43.1 yards per punt. He had a long of 52 and had three punts landed inside the 20-yard line and one go into the endzone for a touchback. Against North Carolina
2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team
The 2007 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina in the 2007 college football season. The team was led by first year coach Butch Davis.-Previous season:...
, Bowden had seven punts for 302 yards and a 43.1 average, with one punt going 59 yards. He had one touchback and two punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. Against Clemson
2007 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2007 Clemson football team represented Clemson University in the 2007 college football season. The Tigers were led by head coach Tommy Bowden and played their home games in Memorial Stadium.- Notable :...
on October 6, Bowden punted eight times for a 46.4 average yards per punt. Two punts landed inside the 20-yard line and three were touchbacks. In the October 25 game against Boston College, Bowden punted eight times for a 39.4 average with one touchback and three punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. Against Georgia Tech
2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team
The 2007 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team represented the Georgia Institute of Technology in the college football season of 2007–2008. The team's coach was former Dallas Cowboys, Samford Bulldogs, and Troy Trojans coach Chan Gailey...
, Bowden punted seven times for a 47.1 average and a punt that went 54 yards. Against the Virginia Cavaliers
2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team
The 2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's coach is coach Al Groh. They played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.- Preseason :...
, Bowden punted four times for an average of 48.3 yards per punt with one punt that went 57 yards. In the ACC Championship Game against Boston College, Bowden punted seven times for a 46.3 punting average with two touchbacks, one punt that landed inside the 20-yard line and one punt that went 54 yards.
Pre-draft
Bowden was ranked as the second-best punter in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
by NFLDraftScout.com, and was projected to be drafted in the seventh round. He was invited to participate in the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bowden was drafted by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
in the sixth round (172nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
. He was signed to a four-year contract on June 16, 2010. He was released on September 6 to make room for Chris Bryan
Chris Bryan
-Carlton Blues:As a mature-aged recruit, Bryan was drafted in the sixth round by Carlton in the 2004 AFL Draft. Drafted as a 22 years old, Bryan was given a chance after showing enough at VFL level for both Sandringham and Frankston...
. Bowden was re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 8, but was released on September 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On August 13, 2011, Bowden signed with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived on August 25.