1:10 The Baltimore Ravens’ Chuck Clark and Mark Andrews have shared their thoughts over uncertainty around the coming NFL season
This was followed up by the cancellation of Kentucky’s Pro Day due to the coronavirus pandemic, although Bowden can rest somewhat assured knowing his elusiveness and between-tackle toughness is vouched for by the game film.
“It was something I’ve always dreamed of, just being at the combine, so when I got there it was like ‘damn’,” he said. “It was really weird like ‘I’m there, this is my dream since I was young and I really got to live it out’.
“They put you through a lot of things to test your mental strength and I think I did good for the most part. I ain’t complaining about nothing, I was just happy to be there.
“They kept asking me about the Virginia Tech incident (Bowden was involved in a pre-game altercation ahead of the Belk Bowl). I gave them the straight-forward answer.”
While at the combine Bowden raised money for every one of his 13 reps in the bench press in aid of the organisation Fathers Incorporated, his own son serving as unparalleled inspiration on his journey to the NFL.
“They (Fathers Incorporated) brought me the idea and I was like ‘what better idea than this?’. I’m doing everything for my son so it was just for the fathers out there that are trying to be in the life of their kids.
“He’s the biggest motivating factor for me because I’m doing everything for him.”
All eyes are now very much on April’s draft for Bowden, who is counting down the days until the next step in his career begins. In fact, he had been on a call to an unnamed NFL side immediately before speaking exclusively to Sky Sports.
“It was great,” he said. “I think it’s going the way I expected it to. I would have liked to have seen them face to face because I like to read guys face to face but this is the life and the way it is right now so I’ve just got to go with it really.
“I’m looking forward to it. This has been my lifelong dream. It feels like it’s coming fast but not fast enough. I really just want to get in there and prove my point.
“I just hope I go to a team that know how to really use me and put me in the best position to compete with guys.”
On the thought of making his NFL debut, Bowden admitted: “I’m going to probably cry. It’s my lifelong dream and it’s finally coming true so it’s going to be am emotional thing for me.”
Watch all three days of the 2020 NFL Draft unfold on Sky Sports, April 23-25 – starting with build-up to day one at 6pm on Thursday, April 23 with the first picks expected to be made at 1am. Follow us @SkySportsNFL and at www.skysports.com/NFL
Sourse: skysports.com
