Tampa Bay Drafts Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson

In what could be the biggest surprise in some time for the Buccaneers in the NFL Draft, former Top 10 Overall rated defensive end Da'Quan Bowers stayed on the board until the 51st pick overall, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made Bowers their second selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

How did it happen?  Bowers had his knee surgically repaired (torn meniscus; diagram) just after his college football season ended last year.  The true junior was outstanding in his last season at Clemson University, becoming a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Bednarik Award, and Nagurski Award and was only one of two players selected for the Walter Camp National Player of the year.

Bowers broke Clemson records for number of sacks in a season and most consecutive games with a sack, records previously held by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Gaines Adams.  Bowers and Adams were close friends -- Bowers cites Adams as a reason he attended Clemson and wore Adams' old number, 93.  Besides the loss of Adams in February 2010, Bowers also lost his father during Clemson's fall camp last season.

Bowers was a team captain last season.

(Background information condensed from NFLDraftScout.com information at CBSSports.com)

Notable Other Possibilities Were:
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (Fla) - to Texas with pick #60

Mikel LeShoure, RB, Illinois - to Lions (from Seahawks) with pick #56

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