100 Days to Football Time in Oklahoma 2024: #2 Billy Bowman By: Ryan Lewis Posted on: August 28, 2024

Player Profile

Position: Safety

Height: 5’10”

Weight: 194

Class: Senior

Seasons at OU: 3

Hometown: Denton, Texas

Previous School: Ryan HS

The Path to Norman

Billy Bowman, a Denton, Texas product, started receiving offers two and a half years before his eventual signing day. A talented athlete, he first committed to the Longhorns in July, 2019. Things remained mostly quiet between Bowman and the Sooners until the summer of 2020, when an offer came. Many members of the 2021 class were very public in their pursuit of Bowman over the coming months. Beyond that, Bowman’s girlfriend – none other than Jayda Coleman – joined the Sooners softball team the same year. That fall, Billy decommitted from the Longhorns; Coleman gave her vote on the subject:

After that, it wasn’t long before Bowman decided to become a Sooner himself.

Career so Far

Bowman’s first year was… interesting. The young man generated a ton of buzz in the offseason and was named the starting nickel heading into the season. He started games throughout the first half of the season before being asked to work at corner. After that ill-fated attempt by the staff, Bowman essentially disappeared. Despite his athletic ability and obvious talent, the struggles in the secondary by the former staff led to a puzzling freshman season for Bowman.

In 2022, Bowman was a starter at safety. He played in 11 games and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury against TCU and was banged up after that. Even with that, it was clear all season that a healthy Bowman was a huge asset for the Sooners. He was a play-maker, hauling in three interceptions and was dangerously close to a lot more.

2023 was another excellent season for Bowman, who started all 13 games. Bowman was a defensive leader and a ball hawk; he ranked second in the country in interceptions and first in the country in both pick sixes and interception return yards. He was named to several first-team All-American lists and earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, consistently showing himself to be one of OU’s best defenders. The safety played in the second-most snaps of any OU defender and finished third on the team in total tackles. Overall, it was a season to remember for Bowman.

Stats

Years: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | Career

Games Played: 13 | 11 | 11 | 35

Tackles: 63 | 60 | 22 | 145

TFL: 3 | 2 | 1.5 | 6.5

INT: 6 | 3 | 0 | 9

FF: 0 | 1 | 1 | 2

FR: 0 | 1 | 0 | 1

PBU: 4 | 5 | 2 | 11

Stats via Soonersports.com

Highlights

This Season

The 2024 OU safety room looks like one of the best in the country, led by Bowman, Peyton Bowen, and Robert Spears-Jennings. Bowman is a lock to start, as shown on this week’s depth chart, with Bowen and RSJ shown as an “or” at the other safety spot. All three will play plenty, and there will surely be opportunities to have all three on the field. Bowman was also listed first at kick return on the depth chart; he has already shown his ball carrying abilities via his interceptions. The senior was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team; expect Bowman to go out with a big last season with the Sooners.