Honors
2014 SEC Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team
Academic Honors
2015 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
2013-2014 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll
2014 Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll
2016
Early-season injuries prematurely ended Bowden’s Commodore career that started two years earlier with Freshman All-SEC recognition… Bowden started in Vanderbilt’s early games against South Carolina, Middle Tennessee and Georgia Tech, but never returned to an active role after suffering a leg injury in Atlanta… He finished the season with 14 total tackles, including five stops against MTSU and Georgia Tech… In mid-November, Bowden informed teammates of his decision to end his playing career.
2015
Bowden’s season ended prematurely… Earned starts at linebacker early-season games against Western Kentucky and Georgia, but never played another snap after Georgia due to injury… Finished the year with four total tackles, all coming in the Georgia game before leaving with an injury.
2014
Bowden capped off an excellent by earning Freshman All-SEC honors from the league’s 14 head coaches… Topped all SEC first-year players in total tackles, and become the first freshman to pace Vanderbilt in total tackles since LB Jamie Winborn did so in 1998… Participated and started at inside linebacker in 11 of 12 games, missing the Mississippi State due to injury… Concluded the season with 78 total tackles, 37 solo stops, 2.0 tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and a forced fumble… Posted at least five tackles in first eight games of Commodore career… Season high of 11 tackles came in stellar performance at Missouri… Also registered 10 stops in win over Charleston Southern… Had nine tackles, including QB sack, at Kentucky.
2013
Did not see game action as a true freshman… He impressed coaches as a prospective middle linebacker on scout teams during the fall… Blessed with superb physical skills.
High School
Captain and team MVP as senior… Enjoyed incredibly productive career as four-year LB starter… As senior, posted 117 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks and four forced fumbles for Chargers… Named First Team AAA All-State as senior… Also played TE on offense… Nominated to play in postseason Offense-Defense All-American Bowl… Two-time Region Player of the Year recipient… As junior, posted 155 tackles and five sacks… Contributed 88 tackles, seven sacks and three forced fumbles as sophomore.
Personal
Nigel Lorenzo Bowden… Majoring in Communication Studies… Son of Phyllis Nathan-Holt and Larry Bowden… Born Dec. 20, 1994… Father is retired from the military… Parents work for U.S. Postal Service… Has a brother, Joe, and sister, Janelle… A second brother, Jason, died in the line of duty during the Iraq War.
Career Highs
Total Tackles: 11, at Missouri, 10/25/2014
Solo Tackles: 6, (2x) Last at Missouri, 10/25/2014
Break Ups: 1, vs. Ole Miss, 9/6/2014
QB Hurries: 2, vs. Ole Miss, 9/6/2014
Tackles for loss: 1.0, (2x) last at Kentucky, 9/27/2014
Sacks: 1.0, at Kentucky, 9/27/2014
