NAPA, Calif. (KGO) — From the city of reds and whites, a person who wears pink and black is placing Napa on the map in a brand new means. Napa Excessive Faculty grad Brock Bowers is the highest tight finish prospect and a first-round lock within the 2024 NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders chosen Bowers with the No. 13 decide within the draft, making him the best participant chosen within the college’s historical past.
2024 NFL DRAFT: First-round picks might be on the buying and selling block on Day 1
“That is one thing I’ve seen coming for a very long time,” Bowers’ former highschool coach Richie Wessman mentioned. “I am simply excited to see the place he is really going to land. You’ll be able to’t assist however root for him once you meet him as a younger man. He is simply such an excellent younger man, raised in an excellent household and he simply has all these good attributes that you really want in someone.”
Bowers had the pedigree as a result of he comes from a household of school athletes.
Coach Wessman noticed Bowers was particular the primary time he touched the ball.
“We threw him a bit bubble display and he stiff-armed someone, spun round another person, juked out another person and outran everybody to the endzone,” Wessman mentioned. “And at that second, I sort of knew this man was going to play within the NFL sometime.”
However the path to the professionals had its bumps.
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The workforce did not win a single recreation his sophomore season and his senior yr was reduce quick by COVID.
His luck modified when he graduated highschool early to hitch the Georgia Bulldogs.
In Athens, he gained two nationwide championships and have become the one participant to win back-to-back Mackey awards, which honors the nation’s high tight finish.
“He is only a champion by means of and thru together with his character and whatnot,” Wessman mentioned. “He simply excels within the classroom, he excels in dealing with himself in the correct means – not moving into any bother. He is only a dream to educate, actually.”
Nearly as good as he’s on the sector, his highschool athletic director Darci Ward says he is a winner off the sector as nicely.
Even the day earlier than his life modifications perpetually on the draft, Bowers was again at his alma mater spending time with the winner of the Prepare with Brock Gasoline with MET-Rx contest.
“It was a extremely superior expertise,” Ward mentioned. “But it surely simply exhibits Brock, not about him, he is simply on the market speaking to the child and ensuring that he will get to have a fantastic second.”
In the course of the draft, Bowers can have a particular second of his personal. He’s celebrating privately together with his household in Napa.
The varsity, in the meantime, is internet hosting its personal draft occasion as a result of his former lecturers, coaches and this city could not be extra proud.
“I feel persons are going to go nuts,” Ward mentioned. “We’re simply so completely satisfied and excited for him. I knew he was going to be one thing, you simply by no means understand how superb.”
For an athlete and a group, generally desires come true.
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