There's no place like home. And wide receiver Elijah Bowick decided Virginia Tech would be home for his collegiate career.
Just Made One Of The Best Decisions Of My Life That I Never Really Thought Of As A Small Kid But I Would Like To Announce The I Am Officially Committed To .... VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY 🦃🏈 #gohokies🦃— Elijah Bowick (@elijahbowick) January 14, 2018
The 6-2, 200 pound Myers Park HS (Charlotte, NC) product picked the Hokies over offers from N.C. State, Louisville, Virginia, and West Virginia among other Power Five programs.
"I've been thinking about this for a while now, and just had to make sure it was the right decision for me," Bowick told The Key Play. "Today, they showed me a lot and it felt like home. It felt like home for me. I did a lot of talking with my parents and they felt the same as well."
Bowick delivered the news straight to head coach Justin Fuente following a Tech junior day event.
"I had a meeting with coach Fuente at the end of the junior day. I went to his office. We had a meeting. I let him know that I was ready to commit.
"He was excited. He very excited. That's what he wanted to hear. He asked me, 'Was I ready?' He was like, 'Are you serious?' And I was serious. He was very excited. I was excited. Coach Wiggins, the whole coaching staff was excited."
Even though Fuente was first to hear the decision, a position meeting with wide receivers coach Holmon Wiggins may have sealed the deal. Wiggins discussed how he'd develop Bowick into "being a complete receiver" and the pitch resonated with Bowick.
"Explosiveness out of the routes, off the line," Bowick cited as areas of improvement to his game. "Getting more crisp on the routes."
Tech recruited Bowick to play outside receiver. Split wide he hopes to leverage his ability to win jump balls and rack up yards after catch.
"I attack the ball very well," Bowick said. "Once I have the ball in my hands I'm looking to score."
According to the Charlotte Observer, Bowick hauled in 56 receptions for 1,005 yards, and 11 touchdowns. His second straight 1,000-yard season.
Bowick is rated as a 3-star WR by the 247Sports Composite.
"He beats people in so many different ways, you can't figure out a way to defend him," Myers Park head coach Scott Chadwick Chadwick told the Charlotte Observer in 2017. "He can go up and catch the fade on on the goal line, or he can use his size to 'wall off' defenders. He took three or four (short) passes this year and took them the distance.
"He really doesn't have a way he cannot be effective as a receiver."
Comments
3 Star WR from NC.
#NC2VT has gotta be giving Larry Fedora ulcers.
Obligatory:
Charlotte area. If VT wants to get into playoff contention, winning in Charlotte recruiting is critical.
I like that 3 hour drive
Also true.
But seriously, why aren't we giving away NC2VT car magnets and decals to each alumni association and Hokie club chapter in North Carolina?
I'll say
I've got family in Charlotte that would ABSOLUTELY rock those. Let's design em here!
I live in Charlotte and I would definitely rock those. Love it when Charlotte area kids commit to Home!
Shut up and take my money! Also, this is the wallpaper on my primary monitor at work:
Now that would be a real winner. GO NC2VT!
Let's go! Great pickup!
Any measurables out there? Slot guy, burner, possession type?
247 lists him at 6-1, 187. #22 in NC. #86 WR. #585 O/A.
Rivals lists him 6-1 190. #19 in NC. #55 WR
Wide guy... vertical, can go up and get the ball. He has been very productive.
Looks like Eric Kumah+
Maybe it was just the number, but reminded me a lot of Pharoh Cooper from USCe. Not as much top end speed, but frame and movement looked similar.
I like him. On his film he looks fast, can win jump balls, and lines up everywhere. Looks like a good weapon to have. Welcome home, Elijah!
Add Pinckney, Kenion, and Tiquest Terry in the slot, and we have quite a WR haul. Steal a bigger name like Hellams or Hazel from Maryland and it would be unbelievable.
It feels like home because it is.
Welcome to Hokie Nation.
FIFY. Good get! If we can keep winning NC I think we stand a much better chance of winning an NC.
Decent size, nice speed, utilizes his body really well with the ball in the air, and to the point French made, we need to get kids from Charlotte.
His route running leave a lot to be desired and will need to be cleaned up quite a bit, but that isn't abnormal for high school WR's.
and if you can run slants and then fake slants and turn them into fades, you can play situational in this offense.
I love big receivers.
And I cannot lie.
One of those kids that may start out a 3 star but wont end there. Dude is legit and a huge get...
I don't care what the recruiting services say... That is a 5 star smile.
Are you Butch Jones?
I was thinking the same thing.
Huge get. I checked his film out a few days ago. Straight baller. YAC machine!
Vt comparsion: A faster
Cam Phillips.
Was Pat Narduzzi the announcer for the catch at 1:33? "Looks like he pushed off"
His speed looks incredible, and he high-points (I'll take the NC pun! ) the ball nicely. Just curious how he will develop against bigger competition. It looks like he towers over the defenders, but that's high school.
Welcome to Hokie Nation, welcome home.
this is a very good read from after his So year.
in photos at the bottom, it looks like he has Boykin hands...well, almost
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/article132297099.html
Big bodied receiver from Charlotte...
The real question is, what size gloves does he wear?
He reminds me of Boykin. 6'1 but plays like 6'4.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/high-school/x3pa43/picture132297...
Now those are some "have to change his 3xxl gloves at halftime every game because his fingers burst the seams" mitts.
Makes me cringe everytime, but I'll take it.
Kid looks like he doesn't go down easily. Big fan of that trait.
Get what you're saying but I have the exact opposite emotional response when I see/hear it because it almost exclusively means we got another recruit.
You know it's funny people always lament over the use of "Virginia Tech University" but technically it is an accurate shortening of the actual name.
It's forbidden by our Brand and Style Guide
I realize. I'm just referring to the logic of the wording.
Yeah, personally I don't care. If a recruit wants to call us the Technical University of Virginia at Blacksburg, I don't care, as long as he's suiting up for us in the fall.
I was just saying, that it's technically not correct, per the school.
Yep, they can call it whatever they want if they are putting on that orange and maroon come football season.
They can call us anything. Just don't call us collect. CAUSE WE AINT ACCEPTING THE CHARGES.
Practically it's an inaccurate shortening of the name.
Don't know why folks get their panties in such a wad about what the recruit calls us. Once we get them in the fold, they'll catch on. I cringe more often at some of the grammatical errors in some TKP posts.
I for one am a criminal of this a lot. I type fast and let it fly!
Certainly not calling anyone in particular out. I guess I shouldn't have went there, I should've just ran away instead.
talk about cringing at grammatical errors! kinda /s but not entirely /s
Lol...I've learnt to not be critical of others jest cause of there grammatical mistakes. Always backfires.
Not gonna lie, "there" hurt to type just a little.
Looks like another solid get for THE Vah Tech University!
I'm on board, as long as he doesn't drop us for loluva.
So here's a fun small world story...I live in Charlotte and went to the dentist today for my semi-annual teeth cleaning. The hygienist noticed I was wearing Hokie colors and she mentioned that one of her son's friends just committed to play football for Tech. Turns out it was Elijah Bowick. I told her to let him know we are excited. Did I do that right? I promise I didn't tweet at him!
I think you missed your opportunity to slip him some Hardees coupons.
Guess I'm going back to the dentist tomorrow for my second semi-annual