One of the top players that the Oklahoma Sooners were able to sign in the 2021 class was a flip from the Texas Longhorns with Billy Bowman. The former Denton Ryan Raider made an impact in all three phases of the game. He was used as a slot receiver, nickel cornerback, and return man on their way to a Texas state championship.
While some thought that Bowman would be playing on the offensive side of the ball, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch pegged him for the defensive side. The Sooners needed to identify their new nickel cornerback after Brendan Radley-Hiles transferred to the Washington Huskies. Following his performance in spring football and the annual spring game, The Athletic’s Jason Kersey listed Bowman as a player that is seeing his stock rise for OU.
The Denton (Texas) Ryan product signed as an “athlete,” and OU coaches allowed the early enrollee to choose his position. He targeted defense — which would have been impossible to imagine a top-tier talent like Bowman doing only a few years ago. He rapidly rose up the depth chart, starting the spring game with the first-team defense at nickelback. Jeremiah Criddell, Bowman’s main competition for the job, missed the spring game, but Bowman has still stood out in a defensive backfield rapidly filling with talent. “That nickel spot is gonna be really fun to watch,” OU coach Lincoln Riley said in an interview with The Athletic. “Criddell was excellent in the spring. Billy Bowman had a really strong spring, especially the second half. I can’t wait to watch it unfold.” – Jason Kersey, The Athletic (subscription required)
Bowman could very well find his way into the starting rotation at cornerback for the Sooners. It wouldn’t be entirely out of the question to see him as a return man on special teams. He can really impact the game in a variety of ways but the arrow is pointing up for the four-star athlete.