'09 VA OT Luke Bowanko (Virginia Verbal)

[GoRU]

'09 VA OT Luke Bowanko



Offensive tackle
Clifton (VA) Centreville

Ht: 6-foot-6
Wt: 260 lbs
Forty: 4.8 secs
Bench max: 315 pounds
Squat max: 375 pounds
Class: 2009 (High School)

ESPN

Bowanko is an athletic offensive lineman. Ha has a good frame at 6'6" 260. A very good base blocker that is technically sound in his footwork and plays with great leverage. Comes off the line of scrimmage with a flat back in excellent power angles. Uses his hands well and has a good first punch. Gets movement at the point of attack by rolling the hips on contact followed by great leg drive. Sustains the block and is able to lock into the frame of the defenders body. Shows mobility getting to linebacker depth and is athletic in the openfield. Good on the double team block; proper leverage along with leg drive knocks the defensive lineman to the second level. Very effective blocker on the move; quick out of his stance when short or long pulling. Executes the step around (X block) to perfection; squares up or logs defender creating a running seam off tackle or on the perimeter. Solid at pass protection but needs to get weight anchored down a little more; plays somewhat high and gets off balance. Bowanko has good foot agility and really works at the technical part of the game. He's a very good lineman that will continue to excel.

Rivals $

4/24

UVA Verbal.

Bowanko commits to Cavaliers - Roanoke.com

Virginia continued its drive for in-state football talent Thursday when it took an oral commitment from Luke Bowanko, a 6-foot-512, 265-pound offensive tackle from Fairfax County’s Centreville High School.

Bowanko became the sixth junior to commit to the Cavaliers, all six from Virginia. There were three Virginians among the 18 seniors who signed with UVa in February.

Bowanko had visited spring games at Virginia and Virginia Tech on back-to-back Saturdays before the Cavaliers on Monday became the first Division I-A team to offer him a scholarship.

"Oh, my goodness, it’s been crazy," said Bowanko, a 3.3 student, of his decision to commit three days after the offer.

Bowanko also plays in the post for the Centreville basketball team, and both of his parents have basketball backgrounds. His father played college basketball and tennis at Frostburg (Md.) State.

Centreville lineman Bowanko commits to Cavs | Charlottesville Daily Progress

It took all of four days for Luke Bowanko to determine his own fate.
After being offered a scholarship on Monday, the offensive tackle from Centreville High in Clifton jumped at the chance to play football at Virginia.
“I had been down to Virginia too many times to count before so I really had an idea,” Bowanko said. “It is a five-year commitment and it is a big commitment to make and I made it in four days, but me and my parents really had a good idea of what we were doing.”

The sixth commitment for the Class of 2009, all of which are from inside the state, Bowanko said he stands at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. He is being projected as an offensive tackle at UVa.

Bowanko, 16, credited a fearless mentality for his success at Centreville.
“I like to be physical,” he said. “All my life, all that’s really got me anything, whether it was AAU basketball with better athletes or playing football with better athletes, I was the youngest kid on the team, but what has set me apart is my mental toughness and my ability to work through adversity.
“My mental makeup is my best attribute in my mind, and I am blessed with parents that don’t spoil me and I know what I have and how easily it can be taken away.”

Bowanko’s work ethic was proven Thursday, just hours after he verbally committed to lead recruiter Anthony Poindexter and later to Virginia coach Al Groh.

“I work harder and harder every day,” he said. “Even after accepting the offer, I probably had the hardest workout of my life.”

Centreville went 6-5 last season, losing in the opening round of the playoffs to West Springfield.

[GoRU]

Rivals (free)

9/24

Is another Virginia commitment looking around? Three-star offensive tackle Luke Bowanko of Clifton (Va.) Centreville has offers from Boston College and Florida State, and apparently is considering visits to both.