Former Y. QB Bower Flourishing in JC Ball
Remember Jacob Bower?
He's the quarterback who transferred away from Brigham Young last winter and landed at Bakersfield Community College in California when it became apparent he would be buried on the depth chart behind Max Hall and, perhaps, incoming JUCO transfer Cade Cooper of Snow College.
Well, after only two games, Bower is suddenly one of the hottest quarterback prospects in the junior college ranks. The former Meridian, Idaho, standout has schools such as Wisconsin, Oregon, California, LSU and Kansas State beating a path to the California desert to watch him play.
Bower, who was recruited to BYU by then-head coach Gary Crowton, redshirted last year in Provo after a two-year LDS Church mission to Wisconsin, so he is considered a freshman at Bakersfield.
That means he will have three years to play three seasons when he goes back to Division I football next year.
Bakersfield is ranked No. 1 in the country among JUCO programs by J.C. Gridwire (the service that includes California schools in its rankings), and Bower is considered by many the top JUCO quarterback prospect in the country.
Last week, Bower completed 21 of 37 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns in a 33-31 win over then-No. 1 El Camino Community College. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass with no time remaining, and now has 775 passing yards and seven touchdowns in two games.
Bower didn't rule out returning to BYU in a talk with the Web site jcfootball.com, but that scenario appears highly unlikely. Also, BYU has six quarterbacks on its roster now, and it is unlikely coaches would welcome Bower back although he would be a year behind Hall, a sophomore, in eligibility and would have more collegiate playing experience than any of the other five QBs.
"I chose [BYU] because of my relationship with coach Crowton and I really liked how he used his quarterbacks as athletes," Bower told the site. "I went on my LDS mission, though, and when I came back he had been let go and they had a whole new staff in there.
"Things just didn't work out there because they had brought in their own quarterback recruits so when I was there it just didn't fit. My dad played there so I gave it a chance, but it just wasn't a good fit for me so I left."
Bower said he took a trip to Wisconsin in June and puts the Badgers at the top of his favorites list, along with LSU and Boise State, which is close to his hometown.
Cal could be an option because Bower's roommate when he was in Provo is the brother of current Cal quarterback Nate Longshore. Also, one of Cal's backups, Kyle Reed, recently announced he is transferring to San Jose State, which could leave the Bears thin at the position, especially if Longshore leaves early for the NFL. That move is considered unlikely, however.
Cougar Prospect Sets Visit
Heavily recruited offensive lineman Hamani Stevens of Hemet, Calif., will take his official visit to BYU on Jan. 11, several California newspapers reported. Hamani, whom scout.com lists as a three-star recruit, said he will go to Oregon on Dec. 1 and is also trying to set up a trip to Washington. He said he would like to take all five of his NCAA allotted visits before deciding on a school.
Stevens, 6-foot-3, 290, had 48 tackles and five sacks his junior year. His older brother Tevita, committed to UTEP and is now on an LDS Church mission in New York.
Hamani Stevens said he also has offers from Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, Colorado State and Arizona.
He's the quarterback who transferred away from Brigham Young last winter and landed at Bakersfield Community College in California when it became apparent he would be buried on the depth chart behind Max Hall and, perhaps, incoming JUCO transfer Cade Cooper of Snow College.
Well, after only two games, Bower is suddenly one of the hottest quarterback prospects in the junior college ranks. The former Meridian, Idaho, standout has schools such as Wisconsin, Oregon, California, LSU and Kansas State beating a path to the California desert to watch him play.
Bower, who was recruited to BYU by then-head coach Gary Crowton, redshirted last year in Provo after a two-year LDS Church mission to Wisconsin, so he is considered a freshman at Bakersfield.
That means he will have three years to play three seasons when he goes back to Division I football next year.
Bakersfield is ranked No. 1 in the country among JUCO programs by J.C. Gridwire (the service that includes California schools in its rankings), and Bower is considered by many the top JUCO quarterback prospect in the country.
Last week, Bower completed 21 of 37 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns in a 33-31 win over then-No. 1 El Camino Community College. He threw the game-winning touchdown pass with no time remaining, and now has 775 passing yards and seven touchdowns in two games.
Bower didn't rule out returning to BYU in a talk with the Web site jcfootball.com, but that scenario appears highly unlikely. Also, BYU has six quarterbacks on its roster now, and it is unlikely coaches would welcome Bower back although he would be a year behind Hall, a sophomore, in eligibility and would have more collegiate playing experience than any of the other five QBs.
"I chose [BYU] because of my relationship with coach Crowton and I really liked how he used his quarterbacks as athletes," Bower told the site. "I went on my LDS mission, though, and when I came back he had been let go and they had a whole new staff in there.
"Things just didn't work out there because they had brought in their own quarterback recruits so when I was there it just didn't fit. My dad played there so I gave it a chance, but it just wasn't a good fit for me so I left."
Bower said he took a trip to Wisconsin in June and puts the Badgers at the top of his favorites list, along with LSU and Boise State, which is close to his hometown.
Cal could be an option because Bower's roommate when he was in Provo is the brother of current Cal quarterback Nate Longshore. Also, one of Cal's backups, Kyle Reed, recently announced he is transferring to San Jose State, which could leave the Bears thin at the position, especially if Longshore leaves early for the NFL. That move is considered unlikely, however.
Cougar Prospect Sets Visit
Heavily recruited offensive lineman Hamani Stevens of Hemet, Calif., will take his official visit to BYU on Jan. 11, several California newspapers reported. Hamani, whom scout.com lists as a three-star recruit, said he will go to Oregon on Dec. 1 and is also trying to set up a trip to Washington. He said he would like to take all five of his NCAA allotted visits before deciding on a school.
Stevens, 6-foot-3, 290, had 48 tackles and five sacks his junior year. His older brother Tevita, committed to UTEP and is now on an LDS Church mission in New York.
Hamani Stevens said he also has offers from Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, Colorado State and Arizona.
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