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From wide receiver, to quarterback, to running back Lynn Bowden has gone.
After starring as a freshman and sophomore at receiver for the Kentucky Wildcats, Bowden transitioned to QB after starter Terry Wilson went down for the season due to injury. The All-SEC athlete only threw 74 pass attempts last season, while recording 185 rush attempts for a wildly impressive 1,468 yards.
Therefore, Bowden saw his NFL draft stock sky-rocket and heard his named called in the third round by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was technically slotted at running back, being assigned No. 33, but that doesn’t mean it will be the only role Bowden plays for Raiders head coach Jon Gruden.
In fact, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson hinted at the possibility of Bowden playing quarterback.
“Right now, we have him working out of the running backs room,” Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson told reporters Tuesday. “He’s meeting with Kirby Wilson, the running backs coach, but also he’s had to learn a lot of things that we do at the quarterback position.”
Olson went on to “acknowledge” how the NFL is becoming more “position-less” and dynamic by players lining up all across the field.
“You see the game changing from year to year, the use of the RPOs (run-pass options) and the use of the Taysom Hills, those type of players that played the RPO-style offense in college, they become valuable.”
Former NFL Draft analyst and current Raiders general manager Mike Mayock had the following to say regarding Bowden’s potential in the offense.
“We believe that he can transition and be a running back, as well as do some of those plays at the quarterback position that he did in college.”
All of this is most certainly encouraging for Bowden’s role with the team, especially as a rookie. It’s without doubt the former Wildcat has exceptional leadership traits and is open to creating as well as running new offensive schemes.
With second-year star running back Josh Jacobs, speedster Henry Ruggs III and other dynamic pieces on the Raiders offense, we’re bound to see fire works from Las Vegas this season.