Utah State Aggies: Player Watch – WR Colby Bowman

The Player Watch, highlighting Utah State Aggies wide receiver Colby Bowman.

• Colby Bowman
• Position: Wide Receiver
• Utah State Aggies
• 6’2” 195 lbs

Who is Colby Bowman?

Colby Bowman was a 4⭐️  in the composites, and a top-50 wide receiver. He attended St. John Bosco high school in California. Bowman also ran track, holding the school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.47 seconds.

Bowman originally enrolled at Stanford in 2019 and did not see any action. The 2020 season was shortened due to Covid-19, but he did appear in six games. In 2021, Bowman saw limited action with only 51 snaps for the entire season. In 2022, Bowman saw 77 snaps and made his first career start against BYU. After the season, Colby Bowman would enter the portal and end up with the Utah State Aggies.

Last season for Utah State, Colby Bowman made six starts and saw a career high 381 snaps. He began the season in a rotation and saw roughly 38 snaps per game through the first five games. However, that diminished once Micah Davis established himself and supplanted Bowman in the rotation.

Bowman would see an uptick in snaps towards the end of the season, recording 52 and 68 snaps in the regular season finale against New Mexico and the bowl game against Georgia State. He finished the season earning 29 targets and hauling in 11 of them for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns. Bowman worked primarily outside at the boundary position at a 91.7%. Meanwhile, he spent 7.9% of his snaps in the slot.

Bowman is a typical boundary receiver. He has the speed to stretch the field and create spacing for the rest of the weapons. It’s quite possible Bowman earns the boundary position this season and Micah Davis moves into the slot. That would give a diverse dynamic to the Aggies’ wide receiving room. Bowman could be used to run gassers and clear spacing, Micah Davis would work the short routes allowing Jalen Royals to operate the remaining vacated area on the field. It’d also allow whoever their quarterback is to have a short, intermediate and deep option as they go through their progressions.

Last year Bowman worked primarily as the intermediate option for the Aggies. But with his track speed, it wouldn’t surprise me if he became a spacer this season to give a more balanced approach to the offense. By adding Bowman to the mix this year, it gives the Aggies receiving room some length. After all, Bowman is 6 feet 2 inches and would give Utah State a vertical threat to complement Jalen Royals. Bowman was targeted on only six deep passes, hauling in three and scoring on two of them, giving the Aggies a new dimension last year. That dimension would also help the run game as defenses would have to keep a safety back to prevent being taken over the top.

Strengths

Colby Bowman brings length and speed at wide receiver. Those traits should keep him in the running to win one of the starting positions in the Utah State offense. While he doesn’t have the same level of speed we saw in 2018, when he was holding school track records, Bowman still can glide against the Group of 5 schools. That threat will force safeties to play deep to protect from being burned, creating spacing in the intermediate routes. It will also allow one less man in the box for when the Aggies run the ball.

Bowman is an experienced player. While he may only have one true season of on-field experience, he has been around since 2019 and faced Pac 10 competition. He can serve as a mentor as well. Being in his sixth season, he has seen it all in one way or another. That veteran presence will help calm the room down. 

Areas of Improvement & Concern

Colby Bowman has never shown himself to be a playmaker. Nor has he been someone to have garnered playing time during his entire career that dates back to 2019. He came into college as a decorated recruit and never made an impact at Stanford before losing his rotational spot this past season to Micah Davis. Would it be a bad indication of the receiver group if nobody else on the roster can bypass Bowman if he’s named a starter?

One could say the competition at Stanford was too tough for him and he needed to go down to the Group of 5 schools. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he still lost his rotational spot to Micah Davis last year. It could be argued that Davis emerged, more than Bowman failing to show he belongs in the rotation. After all, Bowman did earn playing time at the end of the season. 

Positional Outlook

The Aggies lost Terrell Vaughn and did not go into the portal to address the position. Jalen Royals will be the alpha in the Aggies WR room and Micah Davis should be second in command. Where Davis lines up this season will be telling.

Davis lined up outside last season for the majority of snaps, but does have slot experience. His play style is something that would translate in the slot position at the next level. If the other boundary position is available and up for grabs, Colby Bowman could very well be that guy. Bowman adds length and speed to the dimension and could very well be the next man up for the Utah State. 

Pathway to Success

If Colby Bowman is able to be the guy, it would appease everyone. He adds length and speed, bringing a different dimension to the wide receiver room. He will have a full year under his belt at Utah State, and if he is able to showcase his strengths it would take pressure off the entire room. Jalen Royals can focus on his task, Micah Davis can focus on the slot and the rest of the room can have additional time to refine their craft. 

2024 Outlook

Jalen Royals and Micah Davis could be the best duo in the Mountain West. Both players could end up with over 1,000 receiving yards and double digit touchdowns. Colby Bowman would be able to slide in and help stretch the field, clearing out the underneath. That would allow him to get some jump balls and be an important piece in the offense that way. Royals and Davis will need a third guy to step up in the Aggies offense, and that could very well be Bowman.