Raiders QB Ohio’s

10th-ranked player;

he is 19th nationally

By JOHN HARRIS

sports@vindy.com

WARREN

Warren Harding senior quarterback Lynn Bowden has an important decision to make regarding his college future.

He insists he’s in no hurry.

Big-time programs such as Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Indiana and West Virginia have made scholarship offers, according to Rivals, which considers Bowden the 10th best player in Ohio and the 19th best overall player in the country at the multi-dimensional “athlete” position.

To Bowden, nothing is more important than his final year of high school football as he attempts to lead the Raiders to postseason glory.

“I took a step back to concentrate on the season,” said Bowden, who leads the 6-0 Raiders on the road against 2-4 Boardman tonight.

“He wants to be patient,” Harding coach Steve Arnold said. “Some kids get caught up in the web of recruiting. He’s handling it extremely well.”

Even if Bowden decides on a college during the season, he can’t sign a binding letter of intent until the first day of the early signing period in February.

Rated a four-star (out of five stars) talent by Rivals, Bowden — who has the potential to excel at receiver, running back, defensive back and kick returner at the next level — will have no shortage of options.

“We have him in the elite of the elite,” said Rivals midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt. “He has to have the ball in his hands because his ability with the football is unique. He legitimately could play several positions in college and be successful.”

Through it all, Bowden said maximizing his senior season is his primary focus.

“We fell short last year. If I had been a little more focused, we would have done more,” Bowden said. “I think we can get it all, bring the (state championship) trophy back to Warren.”

Harding ended last season with a crushing loss to Mayfield on a last-second field goal in a Division II regional final in Bowden’s first year with the Raiders after transferring from Liberty. Bowden rushed 20 times for 229 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-21 setback.

Asked to explain what he meant by being more focused, Bowden replied, “I was letting a lot of distractions get to me. I got caught up in myself.”

Arnold has noticed a change.

“When you coach great players, there are other things you deal with. Last year, we butted heads,” Arnold said. “This year, he’s taking coaching a lot better. When you can get on your best player and he responds in a positive way, that makes everything better.”

“We’ve got a tight relationship,” Bowden said. “I’m excited about what’s going on right now. We’ve got a lot of team chemistry.”

It also helps that Bowden has a lot of talent. So much, in fact, that Arnold said Bowden ranks with some of Harding’s all-time great players.

“He’s one of the best I’ve seen,” said Arnold, who compares Bowden favorably with three other former Raiders -- Maurice Clarett, Mario Manningham and Omar Provitt.

“People asked me going into the season how good is he in comparison to guys who played here Paul Warfield is at the top of the mountain. The next four, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

“The answer is Lynn’s story has not been told.”