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Penn State's Bowman plans to enter NFL draft
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Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman is expected to enter the NFL draft.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State All-American outside linebacker Navorro Bowman will skip his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
His mother said last night that her son made the decision Sunday after meeting with coach Joe Paterno.
"Navorro is happy with his choice," Johncie Bowman said. "He is looking forward to the NFL. He already has his degree, so he will be OK no matter what happens."
NFLDraftScout.com projects Bowman as a first-round draft pick. Tailback Evan Royster, another redshirt junior, also is expected to enter the NFL draft, sources inside the Nittany Lions' football program said yesterday.
The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Bowman, who has a 6-month-old son, Navorro, Jr., graduated with a degree in crime, law and justice last month, when he also moved out of his off-campus apartment.
"Having a degree makes the decision a lot easier," Bowman said last week before No. 11 Penn State's 19-17 victory against No. 13 LSU in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
Bowman was a first-team All-Big Ten Conference pick for the second consecutive year despite missing nearly three full games with a sore groin. He was the Lions' second-leading tackler with 93 stops and added three sacks.
In the past 18 months, Bowman also has dealt with the sudden deaths of his father and his high school coach, who served as a father figure. He also had legal issues last spring when he admitted to smoking marijuana. That violated his parole from an on-campus fight and disorderly conduct charge in 2007.
Royster, 6-1, 213, became just the seventh Penn State player to enjoy multiple 1,000-yard seasons. A first-team All-Big Ten pick, he ranks eighth all time in career rushing with 2,918 yards.
He is projected as a second or third-round pick by NFLDraftScout.com and has until Jan. 15 to declare as an underclassman.
First Published January 5, 2010 12:56 am
