Lynn Bowden

Lynn Bowden Jr. (born October 14, 1997) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kentucky where he was the team's starting quarterback for seven games as a junior and was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has played in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

Lynn Bowden
refer to caption
Bowden at the 2018 Blue-White Spring Scrimmage
No. 5 – New Orleans Saints
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1997-10-14) October 14, 1997
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:204 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:Warren G. Harding
(Warren, Ohio)
College:Kentucky (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 3 / Pick: 80
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2022
Receptions:28
Receiving yards:211
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Bowden grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and originally attended Liberty High School. He played running back during his freshman year before becoming the Leopards starting quarterback as a sophomore and was named first-team OHSAA Division V All-State after passing for 761 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions and rushing for 1,782 yards. Bowden transferred to Warren G. Harding High School going into his junior year after his family moved to Warren, Ohio.[1] As a senior, Bowden passed for 1,366 yards and rushed for 2,277 yards and scored a combined 57 touchdowns and was named the OHSAA Division II Offensive Player of the Year and was the runner-up for Ohio's Mr. Football Award.[2] Bowden was rated a four star prospect by Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports. He initially committed to play college football at Indiana, but de-committed before deciding to play at the University of Kentucky over offers from Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin.[3] Bowden stuck to his commitment to Kentucky despite a late offer from Ohio State.[4] He finished his high school career as the sixth-leading rusher in Ohio high school history with 7,387 yards and 10th with 91 rushing touchdowns. Bowden also played basketball at Harding, averaging 24 points, six rebounds and seven assists and playing in the Ohio-Kentucky All-Star game as a senior.[5]

College career

As a true freshman, Bowden moved to wide receiver and caught 17 passes for 210 yards and served as the Wildcats' primary kick returner and was named to the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) team as a return specialist.[6] Bowden was also used at quarterback in the Wildcat formation, rushing for 37 yards on 12 attempts and also completed three of four passing attempts for 92 yards with the lone incompletion being an interception.[7] Bowden entered his sophomore season on the Paul Hornung Award watchlist.[8] He finished the season with 67 catches for 745 yards and five touchdowns, all highest on the team, while also returning five punts for 146 yards and two touchdowns and 27 kicks for 539 yards and was named second-team All-SEC as an All-Purpose Performer by the conference's coaches.[9] Against Missouri, Bowden scored a 67-yard touchdown on the first punt return of his career while also catching 13 passes for 166 yards and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.[10]

Bowden entered his junior season on the Hornung and Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlists and second-team preseason All-SEC.[11] After the first four games of the season, Bowden was made the Wildcats starting quarterback after injuries to Kentucky's first and second string quarterbacks.[12] In his first start against Arkansas, Bowden led Kentucky to a 24–20 win after completing seven of 11 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown along with 24 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns and was named the SEC Co-Offensive player of the Week and the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.[13] He was named a first-team midseason All-American by the Associated Press.[14] Bowden set the SEC record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game when he rushed for 284 yards and four touchdowns against rival Louisville in the final game of the regular season and was again named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week.[15][16] Bowden finished the regular season with 1,235 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, 330 yards passing and two touchdowns, 200 kickoff return yards and caught 30 passes for 348 yards while the Wildcats went 5–2 in games he started at quarterback and was named first-team All-SEC as an all-purpose performer and was selected as the recipient of the 2019 Paul Hornung Award.[17] He was named a consensus first-team All-American after being selected by the American Football Coaches Association, AP and the Sporting News. Bowden was also named first-team All-America by Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, USA Today and The Athletic.[18][19][20] Bowden announced that he would enter the 2020 NFL Draft after playing in Kentucky's bowl game, forgoing his senior season.[21] Bowden was named the MVP of the 2019 Belk Bowl after rushing for 233 yards on 34 carries and completing six of twelve pass attempts for 73 yards an interception and throwing a game-winning touchdown pass with 15 seconds left.[22]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanBench press
5 ft 10+5⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		 204 lb
(93 kg)		 30+7⁄8 in
(0.78 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		13 reps
All values from NFL Combine[23]

Las Vegas Raiders

Bowden was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round with the 80th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.[24] He was officially drafted at the running back position by the Raiders with the intention of using him as a "utility player" on offense.[25]

Miami Dolphins

On September 5, 2020, Bowden was traded along with a 2021 sixth round pick to the Miami Dolphins for the Raiders' original fourth round pick that was previously traded to Miami for Raekwon McMillan.[26] Bowden made his NFL debut on September 20, 2020, against the Buffalo Bills, catching one pass for a loss of one yard.[27] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 6, 2020,[28] and activated on November 12.[29] Bowden saw his first significant action in Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, catching seven passes for 82 yards after catching four passes for 41 yards the week prior against the Cincinnati Bengals.[30]

On August 24, 2021, Bowden was placed on injured reserve.[31] On August 30, 2022, he was waived by the Dolphins.[32]

New England Patriots

On September 1, 2022, Bowden was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.[33] He signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 31, 2023.[34] He was waived on May 10, 2023.[35]

New Orleans Saints

On June 15, 2023, Bowden signed with the New Orleans Saints.[36] He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[37][38] On September 13, 2023, Bowden was signed to the active roster.[39]

Personal life

Bowden has a son and daughter.[40] His cousin Derek Culver played basketball at West Virginia and formerly played for the NBA G League teams Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Wisconsin Herd, and Delaware Blue Coats.[41] Bowden has over 70 tattoos.[42]

References
  1. "Bowden becomes a Raider". Tribune Chronicle. July 9, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  2. Krispinsky, Chad (December 1, 2016). "Harding's Bowden finishes second for Ohio Mr. Football". WKBN.com. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  3. "Top 100 recruit Lynn Bowden commits to Kentucky football". USATodayHSS.com. January 14, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. Wasserman, Ari (February 1, 2017). "Lynn Bowden, a four-star ATH from Youngstown, reportedly earns an Ohio State offer, sticks with Kentucky". Cleveland.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  5. Vaught, Larry (April 3, 2017). "UK football signee Bowden to play for Ohio in all-star basketball game". The Daily News. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  6. Fisher, Chris (December 8, 2017). "Lynn Bowden named to SEC All-Freshman Team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  7. Hale, Jon (December 27, 2017). "Could Lynn Bowden help UK defense?". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  8. "UK's Lynn Bowden Jr. named to Paul Hornung Award preseason watch list". FoxLexington.com. July 26, 2018. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  9. Hale, Jon (August 29, 2019). "'I want people to see me': Lynn Bowden is the face of UK football in more ways than one". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  10. Thompson, Tyler (October 29, 2018). "Josh Allen, Lynn Bowden earn SEC Player of the Week honors". KentuckySportsRadio.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  11. Tucker, Kyle (August 30, 2019). "Kentucky's Lynn Bowden reveals how family and football saved his life — and the lie about that tattoo above his eye". The Athletic. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  12. O'Gara, Connor (November 5, 2019). "The case for Kentucky's do-everything Lynn Bowden as an All-American". SaturdaysDownSouth.com. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  13. Marcum, Jason (October 17, 2019). "Lynn Bowden wins Manning Award Quarterback of the Week". ASeaOfBlue.com. SB Nation. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  14. Marcum, Jason (October 15, 2019). "Pair of Wildcats make AP Mid-Season All-America Team". ASeaOfBlue.com. SB Nation. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  15. Marcum, Jason (November 30, 2019). "Lynn Bowden breaks several records in likely his final game at Kroger Field". ASeaOfBlue.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  16. "Lynn Bowden named Manning Award Quarterback of the Week". WKYT.com. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  17. Moore, Josh (December 11, 2019). "'It's remarkable.' Kentucky star Lynn Bowden wins 2019 Paul Hornung Award". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  18. Meyerberg, Paul (December 11, 2019). "Joe Burrow, Chase Young lead USA TODAY Sports college football All-America team". USA Today. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  19. "Sports Illustrated's 2019 College Football All-America Team". SI.com. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  20. "The Athletic's 2019 college football All-America teams". The Athletic. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  21. Khan, Sam (December 9, 2019). "Kentucky's Lynn Bowden Jr. declares for NFL draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  22. "Kentucky's Lynn Bowden Jr. throws late TD pass in Belk Bowl win after pregame scuffle". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  23. "Lynn Bowden Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  24. Mosher, Marcus (April 24, 2020). "Raiders select Kentucky WR Lynn Bowden with the No. 80 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft". Raiders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  25. Moore, Josh (April 25, 2020). "Lynn Bowden's now a Raiders running back. (Yes, you read that right.)". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  26. Kleinschmidt, Jessica (September 5, 2020). "Raiders trade rookie Lynn Bowden, sixth-round draft pick to Dolphins". NBC Sports Bay Area. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  27. Pouart, Alain (September 21, 2020). "Miami Dolphins Week 2 Snap Counts ... And What They Mean". SI.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  28. "Lynn Bowden Jr. Placed on Reserve/COVID List". MiamiDolphins.com. November 6, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  29. "Lynn Bowden Jr. Activated, Three Others Placed on Reserve/COVID List". MiamiDolphins.com. November 12, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  30. Simmons, Myles (December 15, 2020). "Lynn Bowden on opportunity to pass: It felt good". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  31. "Roster Moves: Dolphins Release Two, Waive One, and Place One on Injured Reserve". MiamiDolphins.com. August 24, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  32. "Dolphins make roster moves". MiamiDolphins.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  33. "Patriots Sign WR Lynn Bowden Jr. to the Practice Squad; Place Rookie WR Tyquan Thornton on IR; Release DL Henry Anderson from IR". Patriots.com. September 1, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  34. "Patriots Sign Lynn Bowden Jr. To A Future Contract". Patriots.com. January 30, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  35. "Patriots release WR Lynn Bowden Jr". Patriots.com. May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  36. "Saints' Lynn Bowden: Links up with New Orleans". CBSSports.com. June 15, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  37. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  38. "New Orleans Saints announce practice squad additions". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 30, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  39. "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. September 13, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  40. Cox, Erin (January 25, 2020). "Lynn Bowden Jr. talks about his son". The Daily Independent. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  41. Nespor, Cody (December 17, 2019). "WVU's Derek Culver Has Grown from Youngstown Roots". WV Sports Now. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  42. Vaught, Larry (January 15, 2019). "Vaught's Views: Benny Snell on 'another level of happiness'". Glasgow Daily Times. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
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