Liberty's Bowman makes Boston College early pick

The wide receiver/defensive back will play free safety for the Eagles.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
LIBERTY -- Before announcing his verbal commitment to play football at Boston College next year, Liberty High senior Marcellus Bowman admitted his dislike for cameras.
But when the tape rolled and the shutter snapped, Bowman seemed like a natural. Good thing.
He could be posing a lot this fall.
"I just got a good vibe from the coaches," Bowman said of his decision to become an Eagle and play for coach Tom O'Brien.
"Plus, they have a beautiful campus, and they're constantly trying to improve it since they're going to the [Atlantic Coast Conference]."
Following Fletcher
Fresh off sending the graduated Bradley Fletcher to Iowa on a football scholarship, Liberty didn't waste any time introducing its next Division I player.
"We've had some good ones," Liberty coach Jeff Whittaker said.
"Hopefully we're getting back into that trend where we can get some guys playing at the college level."
Bowman is a pleasant and soft-spoken player whose size (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) and range make him attractive at the next level.
At Liberty, Bowman has played wide receiver and outside linebacker/defensive back, but Boston College plans to make him a free safety.
"They liked his game film and definitely his size," Whittaker said.
"To play in the ACC, they feel they have to get bigger, so they like his size for a free safety."
Whittaker said Bowman had opportunities with schools from the Big East, Big Ten and Southeastern Conference. Ohio High Magazine reported that Ohio State, Michigan, Northwestern and West Virginia were also among Bowman's top choices.
"It almost got, not so much annoying, but nerve-racking because they [coaches] got pretty aggressive at times," Bowman said of the recruiting process.
"But it's a privilege to be in this position."
Bowman, a first team All-Trumbull Athletic Conference selection at defensive back last season, said academics also played a key part in his decision to go east. He's contemplating a sports medicine major.
Senior leader
With his decision complete, Bowman will focus on preparation for his senior season. What will he ask of himself?
"Just to make plays day in and day out," he said. "I'm not going to be a Terrell Owens and beg for the ball, but if it's a critical time and I can help my team, hopefully they'll look my way."
Whittaker said Liberty could have another player make a Div. I commitment soon. According to Ohio High Magazine, tight end/linebacker Keith Forstal (6-4, 210) has shown interest in Iowa and Pittsburgh.
richesson@vindy.com