Thursday, March 22, 2007
Bowers Shining With AFL’s Orlando Predators
Former Presbyterian football standout Ryan Bowers has started off his first season with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League very strong.
Through the Predators’ first three games of the 2007 campaign, Bowers has started all three games for Orlando at defensive back and is currently first on the team in interceptions with three. He is also third on the squad in total tackles with 16.5
Bowers had one of the better games of his professional career in Orlando’s 45-30 home victory over the Austin Wranglers at Hummer Field on Friday, March 16, intercepting two of former Florida State quarterback Adrian McPherson’s passes.
A four-year letterman for the Blue Hose, Bowers was originally signed in the AFL by the Indiana Firebirds during the 2004 season. He was then signed as a free agent by the Predators on Oct. 11, 2005.
After the Predators placed him as an NFL exempt he was signed by the Falcons on January 4, 2006 and was quickly allocated to NFL Europe where he played in the spring of 2006.
The safety/return specialist was assigned to the Berlin Thunder before ending his season by participating in NFL Europe’s World Bowl with the Amsterdam Admirals.
In 2006 in NFL Europe, the former All-American finished fifth in the league in kick returns with a 23.7-yard per return average.
Bowers began his professional career by playing for the Green Bay Blizzard of AF2 during the 2003 season. Bowers finished the season for the Blizzard by recording 102.5 total tackles, including 86 of the solo variety.
He finished third in the league that season with 10 interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.
The Evans, Ga. native was a standout safety at PC, earning All-America accolades after his senior season by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette publication.
Bowers and Orlando (2-1) will next face off against the Dallas Desperados at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 26 at Hummer Field. The game will nationally televised by ESPN2.