Month: September 2021

Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden died on Friday, but he will always be remembered for his iconic coaching career.

Florida State legend Bobby Bowden is one of the most iconic figures in college football history. He led Florida State to a national championship and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Read more in detail here: florida seminoles.

Bobby Bowden recalls longtime Florida State supporter David Mobley, an Atlanta accountant, informing him that he had taken on one of the famous coach’s former players, Tom Pridemore, as a client.

Bowden told Mobley, “Tommy Pridemore’s mother cooked the greatest rabbit and biscuits I’ve ever eaten.”

Pridemore, now 65, had played safety under Bowden almost 30 years ago at West Virginia.

Bowden asked Demetro Stephens the same question every time he ran into him, even after the former Seminoles linebacker had graduated: “Is your grandpa still cooking that apple pie?”

During a house visit in Pensacola, Florida, in January 1991, Bowden was attempting to acquire renowned linebacker Derrick Brooks when Brooks’ younger sister, Latoya, fell asleep on the couch. Bowden put the young girl’s head on his knee without moving his gaze away from Brooks’ mother, Geraldine. Brooks knew he was going to Florida State the moment he saw his mother’s expression.

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Bowden’s characteristic Southern charm and compassion won over parents and grandparents alike in living rooms for more than a half-century. It’s why he was considered as one of the finest closers in recruiting, and it’s why he was able to create one of the greatest college football dynasties in history. Bowden never forgot a name or what one of his players’ mothers prepared for him.

“When you were recruiting against him, you had no chance,” said North Carolina coach Mack Brown, who played at Florida State and coached against Bowden during his first stint with the Tar Heels from 1988 to 1997. “You knew you had to keep an eye on him while he was in the house.”

Bowden, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the father of one of the sport’s most renowned coaching dynasties, died of pancreatic cancer on Sunday morning. He was 91 years old when he died. Bowden was diagnosed with a fatal disease last month, according to his family.

“On and off the field, I’ve always tried to fulfill God’s purpose for my life, and I’m prepared for what’s next,” Bowden said in a statement in July. “Life’s greatest gift has been my wife Ann and our family; I am at peace.”

Bowden has a legacy that extends well beyond football and his coaching career. Bowden, who was well-known for his folksy charm and clever one-liners, spent many Sunday mornings speaking at church pulpits throughout the nation, taking use of his high position to help promote his Christian beliefs. Bowden’s national citizenship award was named after him by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2003.

Bowden told ESPN in 2009, “Faith is the most important thing in the world to me.” “It’s my greatest strength; it’s helped me get through the tough times. You’re not going to win every one of your football games. I’ve always said I’m not going to make football my god. A lot of coaches put everything they have into coaching football games that they have nothing left. I’ve never made football my priority; my priorities are my faith and my dependence on God.”

That was a lesson Bowden attempted to instill in his players, despite the fact that he was chastised for it by some.

Andre Wadsworth, an All-American defensive end at Florida State in 1997, stated, “Coach Bowden was a father figure to all of us.” “From the first day, he told us he didn’t want us sleeping with women because he believed sex should be saved for marriage; he told us he didn’t want us drinking, even after we turned 21; he told us he would treat us all like his sons, and he did; he cared about us more than he cared about football.”

Bowden’s views had an impact on more than simply Florida State’s athletes.

Former Georgia and Miami coach Mark Richt, a longtime assistant under Bowden, stated, “He’s the most important guy in my life, next to my father.” “He showed me the way to a relationship with Jesus, and he gave me an opportunity to coach football at a Power 5 school as a young 25-year-old guy with no experience. I didn’t realize how special it was just to observe him for 15 years as a man of God, a family man, and one of the greatest coaches in college football history. I couldn’t have broken into the business any other way.”

Except for Joe Paterno, who won 409 games in 46 seasons at Penn State, Bowden’s 377 wins at Howard College (now Samford University), West Virginia, and Florida State are the most of any major college football coach. Bowden led his Florida State teams to a 315-98-4 record (the Seminoles were forced to forfeit 12 victories due to NCAA infractions), 12 ACC crowns, and two national championships in 1993 and 1999. Bowden was first among active coaches in winning percentage in bowl games (68.8%), second in bowl wins (22) and second in bowl appearances (22) when he resigned following the 2009 season (33).

Bowden guided his teams to bowl games for 27 successive seasons, including a record 15 consecutive participation in prestigious New Year’s Day bowl games. During that time period, Bowden’s teams won 11 straight bowl games. He’s also the first coach in NCAA history to lead a team to at least 10 wins in 14 consecutive seasons.

Richt said, “We knew things were nice, but we probably didn’t understand how wonderful they were.” “Everybody knew Coach Bowden was in charge, and he didn’t have to try to impose his will on anybody. I think players felt that way, and I think coaches felt that way. There are a lot of different leadership styles, including some that have to remind you who’s the boss every day. Everybody knew Coach Bowden was in charge, and he didn’t have to try to impose his will on anybody.

That wasn’t to say Bowden wasn’t a tough competitor. Brown remembered a game between Florida State and North Carolina in 1997, when the Seminoles were rated No. 2 and the Tar Heels were ranked No. 5. Before the clash of unbeaten teams at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Brown and Bowden met at middle.

Bowden told Brown, “I never imagined I’d see this, boy.” “This is very amazing; this place is filled two hours before the game, so you must be feeling quite good.”

Bowden was suffering from a sore back at the time and had to coach from a stool for the most of the game.

Brown informed him, “Coach, I’m not sure whether we can defeat you or not.” “However, my objective for tonight is to get you off that stool.”

Bowden said, “You’ve got a terrific squad.” “I’m not sure whether you’ll be able to pull me off that stool; it’ll be difficult.”

Bowden may have stood up twice that night, first at halftime and again in the final seconds of Florida State’s 20-3 win.

Bobby Bowden led Florida State to national titles in 1993 and 1999. Doug Mills/AP Photo/Doug Mills/AP Photo/Doug Mills/AP Photo/Doug Mill

Bowden’s football program’s success helped Florida State become one of the country’s biggest public institutions. FSU was known as the Florida State College for Women from 1909 until 1947, when it became a coed institution. FSU didn’t start playing football until 1947, more than four decades after the University of Florida began, and didn’t start awarding sports scholarships until 1951.

Bowden coached 26 consensus All-Americans, including numerous college football’s most prestigious individual honors winners. The 1993 Heisman Trophy was won by Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward, who guided the Seminoles to their first national title. In 2000, Chris Weinke, Bowden’s first three-year starter at quarterback, won the Heisman Trophy. Ward and Weinke were two of three Seminoles quarterbacks to win the Johnny Unitas Award during Bowden’s tenure, while Seminoles players also won the Thorpe, Butkus, Davey O’Brien, Lou Groza, and Lombardi trophies.

FSU became one of the best training grounds for future NFL players under Bowden’s leadership. From 1984 through 2009, a Seminoles player was chosen in the NFL draft every year, with 30 being first-round picks and more over 150 when Bowden took over the team.

Bowden was away from his wife and six children because of football, although three of his sons played on his college teams and subsequently went on to coach. Tommy Bowden was the coach at Tulane and Clemson in 1998, when the Green Wave went undefeated. Terry has coached at Salem (West Virginia) College, Samford University, Auburn, North Alabama, and Akron, and this will be his first season as the head coach at Louisiana Monroe. He led Auburn to an undefeated season in 1993. From 1994 through 2006, Jeff served as wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator on his father’s Florida State team.

Bobby Bowden claims he never put any pressure on his kids to follow in his footsteps as coaches.

In 2009, Bowden stated, “I didn’t push them to be coaches, and I didn’t want them to go into coaching.” “I didn’t want to compete with them, and I didn’t want them to compete with one another.”

Bobby and Tommy Bowden were on opposing sides of the field when Florida State and Clemson played for the first time in 1999. The “Bowden Bowl” was the first major collegiate football match between father and son coaches. FSU won 17-14, the first of Bobby Bowden’s four consecutive wins against his son’s teams. In 2003, Tommy’s Clemson squad defeated No. 3 Florida State 26-10, knocking the Seminoles out of the national title chase on Bobby Bowden’s 74th birthday.

Before Tommy Bowden was forced to quit as Clemson’s coach halfway through the 2008 season, Bobby Bowden held a 5-4 lead against his son in head-to-head matchups. (Bobby Bowden never coached a game against Terry.) Ultimately, the Bowden Bowl’s strain was too much for the family’s matriarch.

In 2005, Tommy Bowden stated, “You see blood hurting, spouse or son.” “Someone is suffering Sunday, and it reflects on her. We are paid well to hurt, but she doesn’t.”

Robert Cleckler “Bobby” Bowden was born on November 8, 1929, in Birmingham, Alabama. Bob Bowden, his father, worked at Birmingham’s First National Bank. Sunset Cleckler Bowden, his mother, was a stay-at-home mom. Bowden’s father survived the Great Depression, but his grandpa, a house builder, went bankrupt and had to move into the family’s home in Birmingham’s Woodlawn neighborhood.

Bobby Bowden spent many autumn nights as a kid with his father on the roof of his family’s garage. Bowden could view the practice fields of Woodlawn High School, which boasted the finest football team in the city, from the roof, which offered a platform over the hedges. Bob Bowden’s Sunday school lesson at the local Baptist church was attended by several of Woodlawn High’s athletes.

Bob Bowden and his family relocated to Birmingham’s East Lake neighborhood in 1934, to a house approximately a half-block from Howard College. Bobby Bowden began playing football at the YMCA when he was nine years old. On Sunday afternoons, a group of local lads would gather at Howard College’s practice grounds for a game of touch football. Harry Gilmer, who would later become his favorite player as the University of Alabama’s great quarterback, was one of the East Lake youngsters who played with Bowden.

“I’ve lived close to a football field my whole life,” Bowden said ESPN in 2007. “I had no other knowledge.”

Bowden was diagnosed with rheumatic fever when he was 13 years old, and his knees swelled. He remained in the hospital for six months and was bedridden for almost a year when he came home. Bowden acquired a passion for, of all things, war while in bed. Radio news from distant battlefields in France, Germany, and other areas of Europe captivated him throughout World War II. Bowden imagined battles in his imagination and pondered generals’ tactics in the absence of television.

“I essentially listened to a play-by-play of World War II for a year,” Bowden stated in Julie and Jim Bettinger’s book “The Book of Bowden.” “I would picture what every location looked like: the battlefield topography, army formations, and the sounds and smells of the war; I had a fairly good map in my mind of where things were in Europe, and I even started to understand whose generals were commanding certain troops.”

During his illness, Bowden acquired a strong passion for college football. On Saturday afternoons, he listened to radio broadcasts of Alabama football games. Bowden’s father gave him a football strategy board game, and he often acted out games he heard on the radio. Bowden aspired to one day play under Frank Thomas, the Crimson Tide’s coach from 1931 to 1946. Bowden, on the other hand, had to persuade his physicians that he was well enough to return to athletics.

After recuperating from rheumatic illness in 1945, Bowden enrolled at Woodlawn High School. Bowden’s doctors recommended him from participating in athletics, so he concentrated his efforts on music. He was a trombone in the school’s marching band and first chair in the orchestra. Bowden performed with the Lee Jordan Band at the Rose Club’s Saturday night dances. He aspired to be a member of the University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band,” and spent the summer of 1945 in band camp in Tuscaloosa.

Of course, “Yea, Alabama!” was Bowden’s favorite tune, and he would subsequently sing the Crimson Tide’s battle song to soothe his nerves before games during his first season as head coach at West Virginia in 1970. That was how much he adored Alabama.

Bowden told ESPN in 2007 that “there was no other school” for him. “I was so invested that I recall weeping and begging to God, ‘Please help them win.’”

Bowden guided his teams to bowl games for 27 successive seasons, including a record 15 consecutive participation in prestigious New Year’s Day bowl games. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire photo

Only playing football was more enjoyable for Bowden. Bowden convinced his parents to seek a second opinion from physicians before his sophomore year of high school. Bowden’s parents were assured that their son’s heart might be repaired, so he tried out for the Woodlawn High varsity squad in 1946. Bowden fractured his thumb right away and missed the whole sophomore season. The next season, he returned and established himself as one of the city’s finest halfbacks.

In 1948, Bowden received a football scholarship at Alabama. H.D. had taken over as Howard’s replacement. When Bowden was a freshman with the Crimson Tide, he was still living his dream of playing for “Red” Drew.

Bowden only stayed at Tuscaloosa for one semester. He was soon homesick for Julia Ann Estock, his high school love and future wife of more than 72 years. Bowden, 19, and Estock, 16, eloped on April 1, 1949, with Bowden driving his father’s gleaming new Ford to a Rising Fawn, Georgia, church. Bowden knew he couldn’t stay on scholarship at Alabama since he was married, so he moved to Howard College, which was only a few streets away from his parents’ house.

Bowden spent four seasons at Howard College (now Samford University) as a halfback and quarterback. In 1949, his teams finished 4-5, 2-8 in 1950, and 2-3-1 in 1951. After guiding Howard to a 5-4 record as a senior in 1952, he was awarded “Little All-America.”

Bowden obtained his master’s degree while traveling to Peabody College in Nashville after graduating from Howard College in 1953. He and Ann had a growing family as well. Robyn, their eldest daughter, was born in 1951, and Steve, their oldest son, was born in 1952. While Bowden and his wife completed school, the kids remained with Bowden’s parents.

Bowden returned to his alma school in 1954, earning $3,600 per year as an assistant football coach and head track coach. In 1956, he left Howard to become the athletic director and football coach at South Georgia Junior College, where he was a three-time state champion. In 1959, Bowden returned to Howard as head football coach, inheriting a squad that had lost six straight seasons. In four seasons, he went 31-6.

Bowden often went to Tuscaloosa to watch the Crimson Tide practice while coaching at Howard. Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant of Alabama became Bowden’s hero. Bowden was a favorite of Bryant’s, and he often sent him guys who couldn’t make it with the Crimson Tide.

Bowden joined Bill Peterson’s Florida State staff as wide receivers coach in 1963. Bowden spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles before joining the West Virginia Mountaineers in 1966. After Jim Carlen departed for Texas Tech in 1970, he was elevated to head coach. Bowden’s first West Virginia squad was 8-3 in 1970, but is most known for squandering a 35-8 halftime lead in a 36-35 defeat to Pittsburgh. The Mountaineers finished 8-4 two years later, but were defeated 49-13 by NC State in the Peach Bowl.

West Virginia fell to 6-5 in 1973 and 4-7 in 1974, putting further pressure on Bowden. The 1974 squad was anticipated to be extremely strong, with 17 starters returning, including All-America wide receiver Danny Buggs. However, due to injuries to their top two quarterbacks, the Mountaineers dropped their season opener against Richmond, 29-25.

Soon after, West Virginia supporters hung Bowden in effigy. “Bye-bye Bowden” was written on a sheet hanging outside a dorm room, and Bowden saw it every day as he went to his office. Bowden’s house also had a “For Sale” sign put in the front yard by fans. Before her husband could see the placard, Ann Bowden took it down.

Before FSU’s 2004 Gator Bowl game against West Virginia, Bowden told reporters, “I can’t forget it.” “I witnessed how fast people turn on you, how quickly friends turn on you, how quickly people who used to invite me to parties stop inviting me,” says the author.

In 1975, the Mountaineers recovered with a 9-3 record, including a 13-10 Peach Bowl win against NC State. Bowden was coaching in a collegiate all-star game in Tampa, Florida after the 1975 season. FSU president Stanley Marshall and athletic director John Bridges called him about the Seminoles’ open coaching job. Bowden applied for the FSU position following his first season at West Virginia in 1970, but the school decided he wasn’t ready. Instead, FSU chose Larry Jones, the Tennessee defensive coordinator. From 1971 through 1975, Jones and his replacement, Darrell Mudra (who coached from the press box rather than the sideline), were a combined 19-37 in five seasons.

Bowden was eventually offered the position when the FSU program collapsed. It was a move that would permanently alter FSU’s and college football’s image. The Seminoles finished 5-6 in Bowden’s first season, which was also his first losing season at FSU. In 1977, the Seminoles went 10-2, and in 1978, they went 8-3. The 1979 squad finished 11-0 throughout the regular season, headed by Bowden’s first senior class. The Seminoles were defeated 24-7 by Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl. In 1980, FSU finished 10-2 and defeated No. 3 Nebraska 18-14 on the road. That, according to Bowden, was the win that placed his program on the map.

“I don’t believe a lot of people had heard of Florida State up to that time,” Bowden remarked in 2009. “Perhaps they’d heard of Florida State in the South, but not across the nation; nevertheless, after that game, people all across the country were asking, ‘Who’s Florida State?’”

It wouldn’t be long until the Seminoles were known across the nation. After battling through one of the most difficult schedules in college football history, the 1981 Florida State Seminoles ended 6-5. The Seminoles finished 3-2 in a five-game run dubbed as “Octoberfest,” in which they faced traditional powers Nebraska, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, and LSU on the road. FSU’s football team, which was still autonomous at the time, had to assist the athletic department in balancing its budget.

The Seminoles finished 7-4-1 in 1986, Bowden’s 11th season at FSU, and were invited to play in the All-American Bowl.

Coach Ray Perkins resigned as coach of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers as soon as FSU landed in Bowden’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama supporters were clear about who they wanted as their next coach: Bowden. He spoke with authorities from Alabama, but was informed that university president Joab Thomas wanted him to go through a complete interview process. Bowden walked out of the meeting and was no longer considered for the position. Three years later, when Crimson Tide coach Bill Curry left, Alabama officials phoned and offered Bowden the position without an interview, but he politely refused.

Bowden told ESPN in 2007: “I felt I was meant to go back there, you know?” “You know how you feel like you’re being led somewhere? I’m thinking to myself, ‘Boy, it’s interesting how my career is. I’m going to wind up back where I always wanted to be.’ And I just assumed it was meant to be. But it wasn’t.”

Bowden’s destiny, even if he didn’t realize it at the time, was to coach at FSU. Bowden took the coaching post at FSU in 1976 with the expectation of using it as a stepping stone to a more appealing job in his home state of Alabama. Bowden wanted to familiarize himself with Southern college football fans after spending the previous decade in West Virginia. He hoped he wouldn’t be in Tallahassee for long after viewing FSU’s 1981 schedule for the first time.

Bowden once remarked, “I never truly came here to stay.” “It simply happened to be that way.”

Bowden never had a cause to quit FSU in his more than three decades as the head coach. The 1987 Florida State squad went 11-1, kicking off a run of 14 seasons with 10 or more wins. From 1987 through 2000, the Seminoles finished in the top five of the final Associated Press Top 25 poll every season. FSU won their first 29 ACC games after entering the conference in 1992, and didn’t lose to a league opponent until a 33-28 defeat at Virginia on Nov. 2, 1995. Each of FSU’s first nine seasons in the ACC resulted in a conference championship.

“Everyone claimed [at North Carolina] we were the second-best in the ACC,” Brown remarked. “Everyone else in the nation was second-best because of him; his teams were in the top four for 14 consecutive seasons, and that’s something you don’t do, no matter who you are or where you coach.”

Bowden, on the other hand, didn’t win his first national title until 1993, and it was mainly due to in-state rival Miami. FSU’s lone setback in 1987 was a 26-25 loss at Miami. The Seminoles were rated No. 1 in the preseason but fell 31-0 to the Hurricanes in their first game the following season. From 1985 through 1992, Miami defeated Florida State seven times in eight seasons, with several of those defeats denying the Seminoles a chance to compete for the national title.

FSU’s most memorable loss against Miami was in 1991, when the No. 1 Seminoles were defeated 17-16 by the No. 2 Hurricanes after FSU kicker Gerry Thomas’ 34-yard field goal attempt with 29 seconds remaining sailed wide right. The play became known as “Wide Right,” and FSU fell to Miami 19-16 the following season after Dan Mowrey missed a 39-yard field goal — how else? — on the last play, wide right.

“We didn’t win a national title until 1993,” Bowden remarked, “primarily because we kept losing to Miami on failed kicks.” “I used to be irritated because no one else would play Miami. Notre Dame would play them, then drop them. Florida would drop them. Penn State would drop them. We would play Miami and lose by one point on a missed field goal, knocking us out of the national championship. I didn’t want to play them, but I had to. That’s why I said, ‘When I die, they’ll say, ‘At least he played Miami.’

In 1993, Florida State eventually defeated Miami 28-10. The Seminoles were defeated 31-24 by No. 2 Notre Dame in their tenth game, but bounced back to win NC State and Florida to finish the regular season with an 11-1 record. Bowden’s first national title came in the Orange Bowl, when No. 1 Florida State beat No. 2 Nebraska 18-16. On the last play, Cornhuskers kicker Byron Bennett’s 45-yard field goal attempt went wide left, allowing the Seminoles to win the game.

Bowden won his second national title in 1999, at the age of 70, when the Seminoles went undefeated and became the first team in the country to go undefeated from start to finish.

“They always thought, ‘He’ll never win the big one,’” Bowden said. “It was more of a relief when you eventually won it, but it was more of an achievement when we won the second national championship. You were No. 1 in the country from start to finish, which had never been done before, and it was a tremendous accomplishment.”

Coach Mack Brown of North Carolina said of Bobby Bowden, “He’s had a Hall of Fame history where he impacted so many people.” Nati Harnik/AP Photo/File

Bowden’s dynasty was chastised at times for player misbehavior and what some saw as a lenient disciplinary policy. Deion Sanders, an All-America cornerback, helped Florida State defeat Auburn 13-7 in the 1989 Sugar Bowl, but it was subsequently revealed that Sanders had dropped out of classes and had not taken any examinations during the previous fall semester. The state’s board of regents enacted the “Deion Rule,” which required students to attend class.

Sports Illustrated ran a cover story shortly after Florida State won the national title in 1993, alleging that at least seven Seminoles athletes went on a $6,000 shopping spree at a Foot Locker store. The shopping spree was reportedly paid for by a sports agent’s associate, making the athletes ineligible under NCAA regulations. As a result of the event, then-Florida coach Steve Spurrier dubbed his team’s main opponent “Free Shoes U.”

Star receiver Peter Warrick, a Heisman Trophy contender, and Laveranues Coles were accused with obtaining substantially discounted goods from a department shop during FSU’s 1999 national championship season. Bowden was chastised for ejecting Coles from the team while merely suspending Warrick for two games. Warrick caught six receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns in FSU’s 46-29 Sugar Bowl win against Virginia Tech. He also returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown.

Bowden was chastised before the same bowl game for not disciplining All-America kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who had violated the team’s New Orleans curfew. Bowden quipped that his Polish-born kicker didn’t have any “Warsaw rules.”

Bowden stated in 2009, “I don’t care what people say.” “I’m in charge of 115 boys, so if five get in trouble, there are 110 who don’t. That’s a pretty good average, but that’s our society today. I’ve always been pretty tough. You probably get a little more understanding as you get older, but I’ve always felt pretty tough when it came to discipline. People have always called me a second-chance coach, but that’s the wacky part about it.

The greatest controversy at Florida State occurred during the 2007 season. The Seminoles banned more than two dozen players for cheating in an online music course only days before they faced Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. According to an inquiry, 61 student-athletes from ten sports got inappropriate music aid. The NCAA imposed a four-year probationary period on FSU, revoked 19 athletic scholarships, and ordered the institution to annul wins by teams in which student-athletes participated, including 12 football triumphs.

“I’ve never been accused of cheating in 50 years of teaching,” Bowden stated in 2009. “Now they want to punish me for something I had nothing to do with.”

Bowden worried at the moment how the controversy might impact his legacy.

Brown stated, “He had a Hall of Fame history where he impacted so many people.” “Coach Bowden’s legacy isn’t his name on the field, all of the victories, or whether or not he had a few taken away; it’s the countless number of players who love him, the players’ and coaches’ lives he touched, and the impact he had on so many people like me. He did it right and he always did it with a smile.”

Bowden’s program started to falter after losing 13-2 to Oklahoma in the 2001 BCS National Championship Game. From 2001 through 2008, the squad that had set the bar for college football in the 1990s only won 10 games in one season. Many Florida State supporters started to worry whether Bowden had lost his touch. Bowden, though, remained to coach beyond his 80th birthday, aiming to restore FSU to the top of the sport once again.

Then-FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who played quarterback for Terry Bowden and coached with him at Samford, was named Bobby Bowden’s eventual successor near the end of the 2007 season. The plan was for Fisher to coach under Bowden until the end of the 2010 season. But when FSU struggled again in 2009, Bowden was unceremoniously forced to retire. Fisher guided the Seminoles to a 14-0 record and a national championship in 2014. He left for Texas A&M in December 2017.

While college football changed and developed throughout the course of Bowden’s more than five decades on the sidelines, his life away from the game remained consistent.

Bowden and Julia Ann purchased the same home in Tallahassee when he was employed at Florida State University in 1976. For almost half a century, they even used the same phone number. Even as pressure grew on Bowden to win more games towards the conclusion of his career, their number was consistently included in the local phone book. Bowden never drank or smoked, and he only swore seldom. Once a year, he was renowned for bringing his players to church, and he seldom missed a Sunday service himself.

In Ace Collins’ book “I Saw Him in Your Eyes,” Bowden says, “I can barely remember not being a believer.” “I was literally raised under the godly influence both at home and at church. There was no alcohol and no smoking at our house. That was the way a Bowden was supposed to live. My father always told me to represent the Bowden name in a respectful manner. I grew to understand that meant living with the highest moral values.

Bowden kept himself occupied in the latter years of his life by giving speeches and playing golf.

Bowden stated in 2009, “I’ve watched so many folks retire and die.” “My father resigned and died a year later, Coach Bryant retired and died a month after, and there’s just one big event remaining when I retire,” he says.

And now he’s gone, dammit.

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Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden died on October 16, 2018 at the age of 89. Bowden led FSU to a national championship in 1993 and retired as the winningest coach in college football history.

Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, and Charlie Ward all shared their thoughts on Bobby Bowden’s recent passing.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Warrick Dunn had recently lost his mother and was concerned about how he would care for his brothers back home in Louisiana when he came to Florida State in 1993.

Coach Bobby Bowden, on the other hand, made him feel at ease in ways that had nothing to do with football.

“Coach Bowden recognized something in me that no one else saw,” Dunn remarked at a memorial service for Bowden. “He believed in me, which is a big thing for an 18-year-old who is still trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Coach is the kind of guy that molds youngsters into men through faith and knowledge.”

Speaker after speaker on Saturday delivered the same message, eschewing virtually all mention of Bowden’s famous football coaching career in favor of sharing why he was a guy they admired and admired. Every tale and narrative centered on Bowden’s religion, his belief system, and the way he treated his players, coaches, and, most importantly, his family with care and compassion.

Bowden died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 8 at the age of 91, but the ceremony inside the Florida State basketball arena was more of a celebration of his life than anything else.

Bobby Bowden, a long-time Florida State coach, is surrounded by Florida Highway Patrol troopers as he lays in state at the Tucker Civic Center during a public memorial service. Mark Wallheiser/Associated Press

More than 300 former players and coaches came to pay their respects, including Peter Warrick, Terrell Buckley, Derrick Brooks, Charlie Ward, Brad Johnson and Chris Weinke. Also in attendance were Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, USF coach Jeff Scott and Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, who succeeded Bowden as Florida State coach and spent eight seasons as the Seminoles coach — winning a national title in 2013.

Fisher adjusted his team’s practice schedule to attend, and pondered on how his career paralleled Bowden’s in so many ways. Fisher first met the Bowden family in 1984, when he and Bowden’s son Terry were teammates at Salem College before Fisher moved to Samford, where Bobby Bowden was a student.

Before becoming head coach, Fisher worked as the offensive coordinator at Florida State under Bobby Bowden.

Fisher described him as a “wonderful mentor.” “I’m very fortunate to be able to have that connection because of what he and his family meant to me in my career and the things I’ve been able to achieve, the things they taught me, and the exposure I had to doing things properly with the greatest guy in the history of the game who’s ever done it.”

When Fisher moved on to Texas A&M after the 2017 season, Bowden still kept up with his career. An avid newspaper reader, Bowden got a subscription to the Houston Chronicle so he could keep up.

Brooks recounted one of his fondest memories from his time at Florida State, recalling being summoned to Bowden’s office for the first time as a freshman. Brooks, like everyone else, had no clue what he’d done wrong. Brooks entered hesitantly, and Bowden expressed his disappointment that Brooks was not living up to his promise.

Brooks, taken aback by the remarks, inquired whether he was certain he had the correct guy. Bowden agreed. Then he went back to Brooks’ first semester grades. Bowden noted Brooks’ C in biology, adding that it was the first time in his life he had received a C. Brooks was startled to hear another voice on the speakerphone: his mother shouting profanities.

“Oh my God, Derrick, you better get it together,” he said as he hung up the phone, according to Brooks. “‘Dadgummit, I don’t want her to come down here and whup both your and my butts at the same time, so you’d better work this out.’

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Brooks said why he adored Bowden: he was going to make sure he lived up to his full potential in every area of his life. Bowden told him two and a half weeks earlier when they talked, “I’m at peace, Derrick, whether God gives me 10 minutes or 10 years. But, more importantly, I want you to keep improving people’s lives in the neighborhood, and, goddammit, keep embracing your kids.”

Dunn said that Bowden’s football legacy “is unlike any other,” but also stated that three Florida State players — himself, Brooks, and Anquan Boldin — earned the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for their community work, a reflection of Bowden himself.

There was some football discussion thrown in for good measure. Ward, who assisted Bowden and Florida State to their first national championship in 1993, said the three P’s that Bowden instilled in him: preparation, persistence, and patience. He told a tale about overcoming adversity from his junior season, when he threw 17 interceptions, four of which came in a victory against Clemson.

“He helped me overcome adversity because he encouraged me when I was often tossing the football to the incorrect squad during my junior season,” Ward said. “Yes, he had reservations, but I’m glad he let me fail and then come back to redeem myself. He believed in me enough to keep pushing me ahead, but in that Clemson game, he reminded me that we were wearing white, not orange.”

Bowden’s children spoke out as well. Bowden’s daughter, Ginger, read a letter he sent on March 10, 1949, to his future wife, Ann, in which he professes his love for her. She talked on her parents’ 72-year marriage before a video montage of the two of them was shown as “Wind Beneath My Wings” was performed. A picture of Ann clutching Bobby Bowden’s hand during one of his last days rounded off the sequence.

Tommy and Terry Bowden, who began coaching as a result of their father’s influence, also spoke. Terry reiterated the lesson he just delivered to his ULM football team, which he received from his father: Football should be a priority, not THE priority.

Football was what enabled Bowden to have such an effect on people around him, which is why his family decided to open the celebration to the public. After a 34-year tenure with the Seminoles, the FSU Marching Chiefs poured into the stadium, performing the school hymn and the battle cry one final time for their mentor.

The Bobby Bowden remembered by former FSU football stars Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Charlie Ward is a story about the life of Bobby Bowden. He was an American college football coach and athletic director who served as head coach at Florida State University from 1976 to 2009. Reference: derrick brooks.

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Harry Kane is a key player for Tottenham Hotspur and the England national team, but he may not be worth his reported $300 million transfer fee. Man City’s loss could be Tottenham’s gain.

Tottenham didn’t need Harry Kane to beat Man City, but Man City clearly need Kane. They lack a player like him who can create and score goals. Read more in detail here: harry kane.

LONDON, United Kingdom — Manchester City may need to reconsider their assessment of Harry Kane. At first sight, it may seem to be a knee-jerk response to Pep Guardiola’s team’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, considering that Pep Guardiola’s side won the Premier League last season despite playing without a recognized striker for the most of the season. Yet, following an early reminder of how City can be defeated by Spurs’ contain-and-counter strategy, it already seems to be a more difficult trick to carry off this time.

– Who is Harry, exactly? Spurs defeated Man City in the season opener.

Tottenham have won their past four games against City at the magnificent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, each time using a roughly identical strategy based on allowing City to control the ball in specific areas because they lack a clinical striker capable of flourishing in tight spaces.

Of course, Guardiola’s squad has overcome this time and time again with a blur of creativity and mobility, an often irresistible combination that the £100 million addition of Jack Grealish, who showed glimpses of talent on his debut here, will undoubtedly only add to in time. Yet, of the two teams on display on Sunday, City was the one that missed Kane the most.

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That was thanks to match-winner Heung-Min Son’s outstanding speed and penetration, as well as an anonymous performance by Ferran Torres as a “false nine” in combination with Steven Bergwijn and Lucas Moura. In a 20-minute appearance, Gabriel Jesus did no better.

“Are you paying attention, Harry Kane?” Tottenham supporters cheered louder than they had earlier in the game when they shouted favorably about their captain, and the 28-year-old was in attendance but not judged fit to play after just returning to training on Friday after England’s journey to the Euro 2020 final. Spurs coach Nuno Espirito Santo claimed Kane’s absence was due only to a lack of match fitness, but it’s difficult to dismiss the possibility that the uncertainty around his future was also a role.

Tottenham are certain that Kane will not be moved, despite the fact that he thinks he has a gentleman’s agreement to leave the club this summer. City hinted that they would be willing to spend about £100 million for his rights, but despite near-constant talk in recent weeks, they have failed to make a formal offer anywhere near the £150 million required to entice chairman Daniel Levy into a real discussion. That will almost certainly alter in the coming days, as the first weekend of the season laid out a plan for the remainder of the season on how to defeat the champs.

Man City’s striker-less style offered little danger, demonstrating why they need to spend a lot to acquire Tottenham’s Harry Kane. Heung-Min Son’s goal early in the second half was enough. Tottenham Hotspur FC/Getty Images/Tottenham Hotspur FC

Guardiola backtracked somewhat on the eve of this game after going public with his desire to sign Kane last week, indicating that he wasn’t about to double down after that, but it wasn’t difficult to decode his true feelings at the end of a weekend in which Manchester United scored five goals and Chelsea and Liverpool both scored three.

“We were in the last third several times, but we couldn’t be clinical enough, and in the end, one action, we lose the game,” he remarked after City had 66 percent possession and 18 shots, but just four of them were on target.

“We’re the same individuals we were last year. Sergio [Aguero] is no longer with us. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much use out of him last season, as he only appeared in seven games. Then Jack [Grealish] came in, but we’re the same team who won the Premier League. It is natural for us to create excellent products. They are always a difficult competitor for us. I get the same impression that we are capable of doing well here, but that we are unable to produce results since they penalize you throughout transitions.”

Although the similarities with Tottenham’s past wins against City were obvious, Nuno would be remiss if he did not recognize that Spurs had more to offer on the day. After a jittery start, they settled into Sunday’s game as their strategy of remaining tight in midfield started to pay off. Behind Moura, Son, and Bergwijn, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oliver Skipp, and Dele Alli formed a three, effectively cramming six players into a narrow central area the width of the penalty box, forcing City to move out wide sooner than they would have wanted.

City, on the other hand, had an overload as they moved the ball swiftly and effectively to the flanks, with Japhet Tanganga left to fight manfully against Grealish and Raheem Sterling as one overlapped the other.

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Spurs seemed to be clinging on under Mourinho’s watch as City controlled after taking one of the few opportunities available at the opposite end. Spurs might have been farther up on this occasion, as Bergwijn wasted a golden opportunity to double their advantage on the hour mark after another blazing breakaway, similar to the one that had given them the lead five minutes earlier.

The game’s lone goal was a delight to see. Moura swung the ball forward just beyond his own area, allowing Bergwijn to charge forward at full speed. To receive the ball, Son moved out to the right, cut in on his left foot, and curled a stunning 20-yard shot past Ederson. Apart from an 84th-minute attempt from substitute Kevin De Bruyne and a thwarted effort from Grealish, the bulk of the 58,262 supporters in attendance turned up the volume, and although City reacted well, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had nothing to cope with.

Kane’s next appearance may still be for any of these clubs, but Nuno insisted that the striker is just preparing for Tottenham’s next match, a Europa Conference League qualifier against Pacos de Ferreira in Portugal. Although it isn’t the European tournament Kane is targeting, Nuno stated after the game that “Harry worked this morning, he is preparing himself, and when he is ready, he will join the group and assist the squad.”

After this, Guardiola may push the City leadership to put that idea to the test a bit more.

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College football’s top 10 potential breakout players for 2021

College football’s top 10 potential breakout players for 2021 are the best college football players in 2022. These athletes have a lot of potential to make an impact on their team and be recognized as one of the best players in the country. Read more in detail here: best college football players 2022.

“The Human First Down” is arguably the most charming nickname for a running back, and it only took Arizona State’s Rachaad White four games to acquire it.

That is, at least, the abbreviated version of the tale. White’s 2020 season was cut short by COVID-19 setbacks for Arizona State and the Pac-12 as a whole, but he made the most of his first year in Tempe by rushing for 571 yards on just 50 total touches — an incredible 11.4 yards per touch, hence the nickname — and leading the Sun Devils in both rushing and receiving. With at least 40 run attempts, he averaged almost 2 yards per touch more than any other athlete in the nation. An explosive play is defined by coaches as a run of 12 yards or a catch of 16 yards. Last season, more over a quarter of White’s touches were explosive.

In sum, White’s four-game debut in 2020 was as thrilling as anybody else’s.

White stated, “I was simply fortunate to get four games.” “I was simply having a good time training and treating it as though it were my last opportunity.”

Chances were harder to come by for everyone in 2020, as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the calendar, and White is one of ten players we’re eyeing as possible breakouts in 2021 following a glimpse of brilliance last season.

The difficulties of the 2020 season, on the other hand, do not tell the whole picture for White. He isn’t a one-hit wonder, and despite the fact that his Pac-12 resume is still just four games old, he has shown himself time and time again.

White had a few discussions with coaches at FBS colleges after graduating from high school in Kansas City, Missouri, but no offers came. He was frail and had mostly served as a receiver. He couldn’t seem to find a niche, and no one wanted to take a chance on him. He enrolled at Division II Nebraska-Kearney but was unable to play, redshirting as a freshman in 2017. Despite this, he felt he had more to contribute.

White stated, “I had goals and aspirations to play in the NFL.” “I was training and disappointed that I had not been offered a Division I scholarship, and I began to notice improvements. I noticed a difference in my physique. As a result of this sequence of events, I ended myself in juco.”

White moved to Mt. San Antonio Junior College and ran for 1,264 yards in his second season, establishing himself as a serious possibility. Suddenly, he was receiving offers from colleges that had previously passed him up in high school. He arrived at Arizona State, where he soon became entangled in a backfield-by-committee situation, waiting for a season that never came.

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Shaun Aguano, the running backs coach, stated, “He went about every rep like a professional.” “And just seeing his fluidity as a runner, but also his route-running, his vision, and his lateral agility, the way he one-cuts, we just knew we had to get him the ball.”

White’s first game at Arizona State was against USC on the road. He rushed for 76 yards on 12 attempts and threw for 70 yards and a score. After then, there was a lengthy gap. Arizona State didn’t play for almost a month after that. White continued to practice and improve. He added 106 all-purpose yards in his following game, against UCLA. He ran for 133 yards against Arizona a week later. White had his finest game yet in the Sun Devils’ season finale against Oregon State, running for 158 yards and two scores.

It was just four games, after all. It was a trailer for a big-budget film, with continuous highlights that didn’t truly reveal the whole story. It served as a starter for the main course of 2021.

“I’m the kind of person who thinks the past is in the past, and I’m aiming to beat 10 [yards per carry],” White said. “Every year, I strive to improve.”

White bulked up this summer, now weighing 210 pounds, and focused on his blocking, which Augano claimed he already excelled at, all in the hopes of becoming an every-down player for the whole 12-game season. He understands the difficulties of fulfilling such high expectations repeatedly over the course of a much lengthier campaign.

White, on the other hand, is driven by the task. He had a dream of playing big-time college football two years ago, but he may have been the only one who really thought it might come true. Building on a strong four-game start no longer seems to be such a daunting task.

“I know it’ll be difficult,” White added, “but that’s the kind of ballplayer I am.” “I’m constantly worried that I’m not doing enough.”

While White seems to be a safe bet for a big 2021, here are nine other up-and-comers hoping to make 2021 a breakthrough year.

Injuries forced Jhamyr Gibbs to miss three games in 2020, but he still managed 763 scrimmage yards in seven games. USA TODAY Sports/Paul Rutherford

Gibbs caused a missed tackle per 1.8 runs last season, which was the most in the nation, and he averaged 3.7 yards per carry after first contact. The only other running back in the nation to come close to those numbers was Javonte Williams of North Carolina, who was drafted 35th overall in this year’s NFL selection.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: Gibbs, an ESPN 300 prospect, had a great rookie season in 2020, but injuries and a weak offensive line restricted his effectiveness. Despite missing three games, he still managed 763 scrimmage yards in seven games. He was electrifying with the ball in his hands, averaging an explosive play (12-yard run, 16-yard reception) on 18% of his touches, second only to Texas’ Bijan Robinson among returning running backs with at least 100 touches. More remarkably, Gibbs accomplished all of this despite sharing a backfield with a true freshman quarterback (Jeff Sims) and playing behind a shaky offensive line. Gibbs ranked 130th among backs with 75 or more runs, averaging just 1.5 yards before contact per carry. However, Gibbs is now healthy, Sims has a year of experience, and the Yellow Jackets have bolstered their offensive line with the addition of Vanderbilt transfer Devin Cochran. Gibbs may be the most exciting runner in the nation, and if the Yellow Jackets’ supporting cast improves as well, this season may be something spectacular for the sophomore.

What they’re saying is as follows: “He’s a really gifted individual. He didn’t play against us last year, but based on what we saw on video, he’s the most gifted tailback we’ve ever seen. I assumed he was a high-ranking official. I’m relieved we won’t be facing them [in 2021].” Coach Dave Doeren of NC State

Stat comparison: Billingsley played sparingly through Alabama’s first six games, but prorate his numbers over the same number of snaps that Texas A&M’s Jalen Wydermyer received, and Billingsley would’ve had an edge in yards (737 to 506), TDs (8 to 6) and first downs (35 to 30).

Why he’s poised for a breakout: There was a time when tight ends like O.J. Howard and Irv Smith were dynamic focal points of the Alabama offense, but it has been a few years since the position made that type of impact. That could change in 2021, as Billingsley looks to build on a terrific finish to his sophomore season. Despite seeing minimal action until late November, he finished with seven grabs of 16 yards or more — the same total as Wydermyer, the Texas A&M star. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Billingsley can line up anywhere on the field — even kick returner, where he fielded five kicks for 89 return yards last season. The key, Nick Saban said, is buy-in. “He’s also got to buy in to the principles and values of the team and be a good teammate,” Saban said. It’s not fun getting on Saban’s bad side, but it also suggests the coach is invested in getting the most out of a talented player.

What they’re saying is as follows: “In terms of what he can accomplish, Jahleel is a unique talent. He has the stature of a tight end but the agility of a wide receiver.” Nick Saban, Alabama’s head coach

Isaiah Thomas of Oklahoma was named to the preseason All-Big 12 team, but Duke’s pass-rush performance was just as impressive. Duke’s pressure rate was 12.8 percent, while Thomas’ was 12.5 percent. Duke was only a smidgeon behind Thomas in terms of gaining initial pressure per pass rush with 11.1 percent (11.2 percent ). Similarly to Thomas, Duke faced pressure on 13 occasions that ended in an incomplete pass. What’s the difference? Duke’s efforts were mostly in vain, as K-State only had one sack on his pressured plays, while Oklahoma had ten.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: Surprisingly, Duke completed the 2020 season with just three tackles for loss and one sack. Those figures just do not reflect his actual performance. Indeed, despite a lesser pressure rate of 9%, his own linemate, Wyatt Hubert, racked up 13 TFL. According to K-State coaches, Duke’s summer has been excellent, and the more productive contribution will ultimately convert to a stronger stat line. It also says something about Duke that his finest game of 2020 came against Oklahoma, with nine tackles, two QB hurries, and a TFL.

What they’re saying is as follows: “He’s still honing his skills, honing everything that makes a great football player. He has a great deal of skill. He’s a football fanatic, and that’s a huge deal. It’s all about paying attention to the little things. People will game-plan for you when you become a man; you’ll only have so many chances, and you can’t afford to miss out on them. But he’s a gifted athlete with all the physical tools to be a great pass rusher.” Buddy Wyatt, Kansas State’s offensive line coach

Miles Battle had an instant impact for Ole Miss after switching from wide receiver to cornerback. Icon Sportswire/Steve Nurenberg

Battle didn’t play for Ole Miss until the sixth game of the season, when they faced Auburn. He played 62 coverage plays after that, was targeted eight times, and did not allow a completion. During that time, the remainder of Ole Miss’ defensive backs allowed a 55 percent completion percentage.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: Battle, a former blue-chip wide receiver, moved to defense five games into the 2020 season. Battle acknowledged that the finer aspects of the position were far from polished, and his tackling style needed to be improved, thus it was a trial by fire. However, his natural abilities — as well as his 6-3, 195-pound physique — were more than enough to make an immediate impression. Despite only playing 62 plays in coverage, Battle was able to intercept four passes on eight targets. None of the eight objectives were successfully completed. That’s a high standard to set for his follow-up, but Battle seems to be up to the task. During spring practice, he ran with the starting defense, and he’s bulked up his body to better manage the job’s physical demands. He’s also had an offseason to acclimate to the position. If Ole Miss wants to take the next step toward contending for an SEC West championship, the defense, especially the secondary, must improve significantly. The Rebels may just find the component they’re searching for in battle.

“He’s got tremendous length and ability, and he’s done well transitioning from wide receiver,” they add. – Lane Kiffin, head coach of Ole Miss

Last season, Mafe had a 12.6 percent pressure rate and six sacks produced in less than half the plays of Miami edge rusher Jaelen Phillips (11.6 percent pressure rate, 11 sacks made), who went on to be selected with the 18th selection in the 2021 NFL draft.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: The 2020 season was intended to be Mafe’s breakout season, but COVID-19 pushed up the start date and disrupted the schedule even when the Gophers returned to the field. The end result was a six-game preview of what could be in store for 2021. Mafe had 18 solo tackles, including 5.5 for a loss, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two quarterback hurries. In 2020, he received pressure on almost 13% of his pass rushes, behind only Ohio State’s Zach Harrison and Tyreke Smith, as well as Indiana’s Micah McFadden, among Big Ten edge rushers. His 10.7% pass rush disruption rate (sacks, fumbles, incompletions, and penalties drawn per rush) places him in the top ten nationally.

What they’re saying is as follows: “It’s a shame his season was cut short last year since he had 4.5 sacks in six games, not including training camp and everything else. Last year, he was on track for a real breakthrough year, but his season was cut short. People are going to see what he can accomplish this year, I believe.” P.J. Fleck, Minnesota’s coach

Last season, Zappe passed for 1,833 yards and 15 touchdowns, putting him on pace with Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (1,883 yards, 16 TDs). The only difference is that Clifford had to play nine games to get those statistics. Zappe completed the task in four minutes.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: You may forgive yourself if you haven’t heard of Zappe, who spent his first three seasons at FCS Houston Baptist, but he got a taste of the spotlight early last season when the Huskies played a truncated schedule against three FBS opponents due to the postponement of COVID-19. In those three games, Zappe passed for 1,453 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a ludicrous 567 against Texas Tech. Now he’s at Western Kentucky, where he’ll be joined by Zach Kittley, his former Houston Baptist offensive coordinator, and the air-it-out offense may take the Conference USA by storm.

What they’re saying is as follows: “Mike Leach, Kliff Kingsbury, Lincoln Riley, and Zach Kittley are all part of the Air Raid tree, which is a highly unique and prolific tree. The game is constantly evolving and changing, and you must stay ahead of the curve. That’s why I set out to find Zach Kittley. I believe we’ve arrived at a nice point. And you need a trigger guy to pull it off, which is why we went out and recruited Bailey. We’re ecstatic about him.” Tyson Helton, head coach at Western Kentucky University

Josh Downs of North Carolina is a wide receiver.

Stat comparison: In his only significant action last season, Downs caught four passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns in UNC’s bowl game against Texas A&M. That stat line looked nearly identical to that of Florida’s Kadarius Toney (7 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs) against the Aggies. Toney went on to become a first-round draft pick.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: North Carolina said farewell to two of its most established receivers in Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome, but the Tar Heels’ passing game isn’t in jeopardy. The yards will come with QB Sam Howell still at the helm, and there’s little question that Downs, a quick slot receiver, will get his fair share. Brown’s coming-out celebration in the Orange Bowl, which he missed due to an opt-out, was just the beginning. UNC’s defensive backs have praised the 7-on-7 competition, hailing Downs as a possible All-ACC performer in 2021.

What they’re saying is as follows: “We are aware of what is expected of us. We have a few conversations here and there, pushing each other. We discuss our objectives. You can make it happen just by saying it, and Josh Downs is going to be something amazing.” UNC’s corner Tony Grimes is a British actor.

Austin Stogner of Oklahoma is one of the greatest blocks in the nation, despite being an offensive-minded tight end. USA TODAY Sports/Kevin Jairaj

Despite having far fewer targets than any of them, Stogner had 11 explosive plays for Oklahoma last season, more than Clemson’s Braden Galloway (9), Georgia’s Arik Gilbert (8), or Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer (7).

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: Stogner had a great start to the 2020 season, rushing for more than 70 yards in four of his first seven games and scoring three touchdowns, until a knee injury and a serious infection caused him to miss the last two regular-season games as well as the Big 12 championship game. He’s gotten back into form, however, and he has a potential to be one of the country’s most puzzling matchup issues. He’s a nuisance as an outside receiver and out of the backfield because of his flexibility, but at 6-6, he’s also one of the finest blocks in the nation, which is an uncommon benefit for offensive-minded tight ends.

What they’re saying is as follows: “Austin has overcome a lot to return to the field for us this season. We’re looking forward to putting his unique skill set to use.” Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma coach

Only six corners, including Boykin, return for 2021 after allowing fewer than 33% completions and 4 yards per target on at least 19 targets. Northwestern’s Greg Newsome, who was chosen with the 26th overall selection in this year’s NFL draft, is the only other corner with similar statistics from 2020 who will not return.

Why he’s on the verge of a breakthrough: The former Notre Dame blue-chip prospect was forced to sit out the 2019 season after transferring to UMass. COVID-19 upended the Minutemen’s season, which came down to four road games spaced out over a month and a half in late October and November, giving him just a tiny glimpse into his potential in 2020. However, that sneak glimpse was amazing. Opposing quarterbacks targeted Boykin 19 times, but just one throw for more than 20 yards was completed. Boykin had three pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a sack to go along with his three pass breakups. All of this was accomplished despite playing on a defense that gave up 40 points a game. Boykin and UMass will have a much stronger foundation in 2021, and although the Minutemen are unlikely to be the season’s surprise team, their star-in-waiting cornerback will be well worth watching.

What they’re saying is as follows: “With a shortened schedule and little practice time last year, he was able to shake off the rust. He’s doing very well now.” UMass head coach Walt Bell

The best college basketball player 2021 is a list of the top 10 players that could breakout in college football in the upcoming year.

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