Stampeding Through the 2025 USF Football Roster: #62 OL Derek Bowman

An iron man on the offensive line.

PLAYER: Derek Bowman

POSITION: Offensive lineman (tackle)

YEAR: Redshirt senior

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6'5", 300 lbs.

HOW DID HE GET HERE? A mid-to-high three star prospect out of Magnolia, Texas, where he put together quite an offer sheet, including power conference programs like Texas Tech, Minnesota, and Arizona. He ended up deciding on the hometown-ish Houston Cougars and enrolled in 2020. Delightfully, his first collegiate action came against USF that same season.

Bowman spent three seasons in Houston, but didn’t play much outside of special teams. He transferred to USF for the 2023 season and became an instant starter at right tackle on Alex Golesh’s first offensive line.

HOW WAS HIS 2024 SEASON? More of the same. The Bulls’ offensive line was a bit of a mess early on in 2024, but Bowman was one of the few constants. He started in all 13 games at right tackle and led all USF players in snaps.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2025? Why stop now? I stop short of saying anyone is a set-and-forget lock on USF’s offensive line, given the struggles they had at times last season, but it would have to take something odd for Bowman not to spend his final collegiate season as a starter at tackle. He’s been a staple of this offense from the moment he arrived in Tampa, and that doesn’t seem likely to change anytime soon. I suspect the biggest question for Bowman isn’t whether he’ll start, but whether he’ll stay at right tackle or move over to the left to replace RJ Perry.