Bowers Named Associated Press First-Team All-American

Dec. 14, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers has been named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press. This is the fourth major All-America team for Bowers. He was earlier named by the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers Association.

The final major All-America team to be announced is the Sporting News team. If Bowers is named to that team he will become just the fourth unanimous first-team All-American in Clemson history. The others are Terry Kinard (1982), Gaines Adams (2006) and C.J. Spiller (2009). Bowers would be the first to do it in his junior year.

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.