Big man on campus: Division I football programs have interest in Colony lineman

Aug. 15, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman

PALMER - Standing 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds Wade Bowen is always the big man on the Colony High School campus.

But now the senior lineman has the potential of being a man on a big campus.

Bowen, a large reason the Knights rushed for 232 yards and gained 331 yards of total offense in a 41-6 nonconference win over Soldotna at Colony on Saturday, has the potential of suiting up for a top Division I program next fall. Washington, Oregon, Notre Dame and UCLA are among the schools that have contacted Bowen, and the University of Hawaii has already made him an offer, he said.

But with all the attention he is getting, the humble Bowen does not want to think beyond October.

&#8220I just want to concentrate on my team and my senior year,” Bowen said.

The Knights, who open Railbelt Conference play against North Pole on Friday at CHS, return about 20 seniors with varsity experience, and lost only two starters from a team that advanced to the first round of the playoffs last season.

&#8220All of the coaches have been anticipating that this year would be the best year since we came in as freshmen,” Bowen said. &#8220We've been thinking about this year for a long time.”

Bowen's attention may be on the 2006 season, but that doesn't mean that college recruiters still don't have their attention on him. Bowen said, at first, he was a little surprised that so many programs were noticing him. During the offseason he has been able to attend various camps in the Lower 48. The camps have been a definite help, he said.

&#8220There are mostly Division I caliber players down there,” Bowen said. &#8220Once I got down there I could tell I could compete with those guys.”

Bowen attended a camp sponsored by Nike in Oregon. He has also worked closely with Brian Derby, a former standout offensive lineman at the University of Hawaii who now runs clinics across the country, including one at Colony High.

&#8220He's helped improve my technique like 100 percent,” Bowen said.

Bowen, Colony's starting right offensive guard, also plays defense, but is expected to be an offensive lineman at the college level.

On Saturday, Bowen helped pave the way for four Colony rushing touchdowns. Fellow senior Chebon Jimenez ran for a game-high 188 yards on 19 carries. He scored on runs 3, 12 and 18 yards.

Quarterback Teddy Babcock tossed a pair of touchdown passes, and ran for another.

Babcock completed 6-of-7 passes for 99 yards.

Regis Price hauled in a 45-yard Babcock pass for a score, and Bradley Truax caught an 18-yard touchdown pass.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.