DE Bowers to enter NFL draft

CLEMSON -- Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers is turning pro.

Bowers' decision, which he revealed Wednesday, is hardly a surprise considering Bowers' early first-round NFL draft grade.

The Nagurski Award winner led the country with 15 1/2 sacks this fall, a half-sack shy of the program record, en route to unanimous All-America honors. The decision is another early offseason blow to Clemson, which lost Bowers' positional coach, Chris Rumph, to Alabama a day earlier.

"I want to thank everyone at Clemson for all they have done for me the last three years," Bowers said in a release. "I feel I am ready to go to the next level and I look forward to working hard in preparation for the draft."

Bowers arrived on campus as ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect in the country in 2008, but had just four total sacks in his first two seasons.

Bowers recommitted himself last summer before his senior year and dedicated the season to his father, who died prior to the season.

"You hear people talk about the Clemson family, and when my father passed this past summer, I saw that first hand," he said. "There is a great support system at Clemson. The coaches and players were all there for me and I will never forget that."

Football coach Dabo Swinney had hoped the NFL's labor strife and likely depressed rookie salaries might compel Bowers to return for his senior year. But Bowers had been contacted by dozens of agents, who advised him to enter the draft and begin working toward free agency.

Swinney released a statement following Bowers' decision.

"Da'Quan and I talked about this decision at length," Swinney said. "We obviously would love to have him return for his senior year, but we certainly understand the decision. Most see him as a top-five selection in the NFL draft.

"He has grown as a person this past year and he showed everyone his capabilities on the field. We challenged him to become a dominant defensive player and he was just that."

Check out the Clemson blog at postandcourier.com/blogs/tiger_tracks and follow Travis Sawchik on Twitter (@travis_sawchik).