KENTWOOD, Mich. — According to former head coach Tony Kimbroough, Stellan Bowman had the biggest signing day crowd in the history of East Kentwood High School on Wednesday.
Several classmates, coaches and family members gathered in a small room to see the Falcons linebacker sign the dotted line to play college football at Ohio. His future linebackers coach Nate Faanes even called to hear his signing day celebration on speakerphone.
"It feels great," Bowman said. "I am blessed to be in this situation. I am just blessed."
Wednesday was a day Bowman envisioned for quite some time, but others said he might not achieve.
His seventh-grade science teacher said he would not make it in football.
His own coaches saw a scrawny Bowman during his freshman season and had doubts of their own. Then he put in the work and earned the scholarship.
"This is something I always wanted," Bowman said. "I put my trust in God and watched my dreams unfold before me. I have to give all of the glory to Him."
The three-star recruit had a few offers out of high school, including from Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan. However, it was the Bobcats who stood apart from the pack.
"Their defensive coordinator, their head coach, their linebackers coach, all of them, it was a real family feel," Bowman said. "I did not feel like they were recruiting me just to recruit me or throw me an offer. I really felt at home there. I felt at peace. It was a place I thought I could thrive. Honestly, I just love it there. The way their defensive coordinator talks, it matches the way I like to play football. Their linebackers coach, I believe he can take me to some really far places. I really thought they could build me."
The 220-pound linebacker is ready to be built. He'll head to Athens in three weeks as an early enrollee.
"I just really saw what the best overall option was for me," Bowman said. "I really saw that there was not a reason to not early enroll."
One big reason to leave East Kentwood early is because Bowman hopes to play as a true freshman.
"I want to compete for playing time right away," Bowman said. "That's just who I am. Competing is one of my favorite things to do in the world. At the same time, if I do get an extra year with a redshirt, I am not going to be upset by that. I am going to go in there and work my butt off."
Bowman is known as the "headbanger" because his coaches say he hits so hard he knocks the paint off of opponents' helmets. He's ready to bring that same mindset at the next level.
"[I am] somebody that hits people hard, works hard, plays hard, does everything to his fullest ability," Bowman said. "My film will show you that. Hopefully in the next few years it will show you that as well."
Bowman does not have his class schedule just yet but he plans to study construction management, however he might go into exercise science.
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