Bowers Named All-American by Sporting News

Dec. 15, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been named a first-team All-American by Sporting News. The selection makes Bowers a unanimous first-team All-American for 2010, just the fourth player in Clemson history to be named a unanimous first-team All-American and the first junior to do it.

Earlier he was named by Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers Association. These are the five major All-America teams recognized by the NCAA when it selects its consensus and unanimous All-America teams.

Bowers has also been named a first-team All-American by CBS Sportsline, Rivals.com, Scout.com, Si.com, College Football News, and Phil Steele.

Bowers joins Terry Kinard (1982), Gaines Adams (2006) and C.J. Spiller (2009) as unanimous first-team All-Americans in Clemson history.

“To be named a unanimous All-American is a great honor,” said Bowers. “To be on the same list with Terry Kinard, Terry Kinard since I was young, and everyone knows I was very close to Gaines Adams. He had a very positive effect on my career on and off the field and to be on this list with him is especially meaningful. And, I was C.J.’s teammate for two years so I saw everything he accomplished first hand.

“After the bowl I will sit down with my family and take a look at my options as far as the NFL draft is concerned and have a decision sometime prior to the January 15 deadline. Until that time, all I am concerned with is getting a victory over South Florida in the bowl (Meineke Car Care) game.”

He was one of 10 unanimous first-team All-Americans this year. The others are LaMichael James of Oregon (RB), Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State (WR), Rodney Hudson of Florida State (OL), Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin (OL), Ryan Kerrigan of Purdue (DE), Luke Kuechly of Boston College (LB), Greg Jones of Michigan State (LB), Patrick Peterson of LSU (CB) and Prince Amukamara of Nebraska (CB).

Bowers could be considered the most honored Clemson player in history for a single season. He became the first Clemson player to win the Nagurski Award and the Hendricks Award. The Nagurski is selected by the Football Writers Association and goes to the top defensive player in college football. The Hendricks Award goes to the top defensive end in college football.

Bowers was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award and the Bednarik Award. He was also named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Bowers leads the nation in sacks with 15.5 and is second in tackles for loss with 25. His sack total is second in Clemson history for one season, best among defensive linemen, and is the most by an ACC player since 1999 when Keith Adams had a Clemson record 16 sacks. He had a streak of nine consecutive games with a sack, a school record. He is second on the team in tackles with 67. Clemson is ninth in the nation in scoring defense and second in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed with six.

Bowers’ tackle for loss total is the most by a Clemson defensive lineman since 1991 when Rob Bodine had 27. Bowers had a streak of nine straight games with a sack during this season, the longest streak in Clemson history.

Bowers and the Tigers will meet South Florida in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte at noon on December 31.