Competing for a starting position at either the spur safety or the bandit safety positions in the defensive backfield … also used extensively on special teams … intelligent player who provides leadership … possesses a great work ethic and works hard on-and-off the field … selected an “Iron Mountaineer” for the second year by his teammates because of his hard work and dedication during the offseason lifting and conditioning program Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll … previous bowl trips: 2006 Sugar, 2007 Gator, 2008 Fiesta, 2008 Car Care.
2008 (r-Jr.): Played in 12 games … saw action on more than 165 plays, including a season-high 27 plays against Syracuse … registered 20 tackles for the year, including 13 solo stops, assisted on a tackle for loss, collected both an interception and two pass breakups … season-high five tackles, including four solo stops against North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl … also had five tackles against Villanova, including three solo stops … four tackles against Syracuse, along with an interception … assisted on a tackle for loss at East Carolina … two tackles against Marshall and a solo tackle at Colorado … solo tackles at Louisville and Pitt … 2008 Iron Mountaineer Award.
2007 (r-So.): Saw playing time at the wide receiver position before being moved to safety at the middle of the season … played in 10 games … missed time during the early part of the season when he pulled his left hamstring … finished with one catch for 16 yards against Western Michigan ... two tackles and a tackle for loss at Cincinnati … two tackles against Louisville … moved from quarterback to wide receiver in the offseason before his sophomore year.
2006 (r-Fr.): Suffered a hamstring pull in the Eastern Washington game after scoring a rushing touchdown ... six-yard reception from Jarrett Brown vs. Syracuse ... two key tackles on special teams in the Gator Bowl..
2005 (Fr.): Redshirted … did not see varsity action but was the Danny Van Etten Award winner as the scout team player of the year on offense ... scout team champion: Syracuse.
Prep: Kennedy Award winner as the West Virginia state high school player of the year ... led Coach Dave Walker’s Bulldogs to a 50-5 record ... a three-time first team all-state selection … three-time Martinsburg Journal all-area as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Journal and Herald-Mail Player of the Year ... finished with 8,515 career passing yards with 113 scores ... accumulated 2,427 rushing yards with 38 scores ... Gatorade Player of the Year ... also a basketball and track letterman ... Student Council, National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, president of Art Honorary Society.
Personal: Birthday is Oct. 28 ... son of Tommy and Becky Sowers ... one of four children … majoring in exercise physiology.
