Brent Bowden facts for kids

Brent Michael Bowden (born May 21, 1987) is an American former professional football punter. A punter is a special player who kicks the ball far down the field to the other team. He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL draft. This is when professional teams pick new players. He played college football for Virginia Tech.

Bowden also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Virginia Destroyers.

Growing Up and High School Football

Brent Bowden was born on May 21, 1987, in Huntsville, Alabama. His family loved football! His older brother, Chris, was also a punter for Florida State. His younger brother, Grant, also became a punter.

Brent went to Westfield High School in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was a star punter there.

High School Achievements

In 2003, during his junior year, Brent kicked the ball an average of 40 yards per punt. He was very accurate, often placing the ball where the other team couldn't return it easily. His longest kick was 64 yards! Many of his punts landed inside the 20-yard line, which is great for a punter.

In his senior year (2004), Brent's average punt distance increased to 44 yards. He was even better at placing the ball close to the goal line. He had 16 punts land inside the 20-yard line. He was named first-team all-state, which means he was one of the best high school punters in Virginia.

College Football Career

Brent Bowden played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Starting Out (2005-2006)

In 2005, Brent was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in any games. It allowed him to train and get stronger without using up a year of his playing eligibility. He was the backup punter.

In 2006, he continued as the backup punter. He dressed for all the games but didn't get to play.

Becoming the Starter (2007)

In 2007, Brent became the main punter for Virginia Tech. He played in all 14 games that season. He tied a school record for the most punts in a year with 87. His average punt was 42.6 yards. He was very good at kicking the ball "inside the 20-yard line" (I20). This means the ball landed within 20 yards of the opponent's goal line, making it harder for them to score. About 37% of his kicks landed I20.

Continued Success (2008)

Brent played in all 14 games again in 2008. He had 69 punts with an average of 40.4 yards. He continued to be a "directional punter," meaning he could kick the ball to specific areas of the field. He placed 27 punts (39% of his kicks) inside the 20-yard line. He also helped with field goals and extra points by holding the ball for the kicker.

All-ACC Season (2009)

In 2009, Brent had his best college season. He played in all 13 games and had 57 punts. His average punt was 43.65 yards. He placed 21 punts (36.8%) inside the 20-yard line. Because of his excellent performance, Brent was named the first-team All-ACC punter. This means he was considered the best punter in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

College Career Summary

Overall, Brent Bowden played in 41 college games in a row. He had 214 punts, covering over 9,000 yards! His average punt was 42.13 yards. He was known for his accuracy, with 81 punts landing inside the 20-yard line.

After his college career, Brent played in a special game called the Texas vs. The Nation Game in 2010. He showed off his skills by averaging over 50 yards on 8 punts.

Professional Football Career

Before the NFL draft, experts thought Brent was one of the best punters available. He was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, where players show their skills to professional teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2010, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Brent Bowden in the sixth round of the NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract with them. However, he was released from the main team in September 2010. He was briefly on their practice squad, which is a group of players who train with the team but aren't on the active roster.

Jacksonville Jaguars

In 2011, Brent signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was with them during the preseason but was later waived (released) before the regular season began.

Virginia Destroyers

In September 2012, Brent signed with the Virginia Destroyers. This team was part of the United Football League (UFL). In his first game with them, he averaged 48.5 yards on 4 punts. Two of those punts landed inside the 20-yard line.