The 2025 Senior Bowl will provide an opportunity for NFL draft prospects to prove themselves on the largest pre-draft stage. Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman Jr. plans on taking full advantage. Bowman Jr. recently spoke exclusively with the Senior Bowl and Draft Network to discuss his motivation for accepting his invitation to compete in Mobile, Alabama.
Bowman Jr. also discussed what he's striving to prove to NFL general managers and scouts in attendance at the Senior Bowl, his approach as a versatile defensive back, how he’d write his own scouting report, and more. Let's get to know Bowman Jr. better ahead of his journey to the Senior Bowl.
JM: Where were you when you found out about your Senior Bowl invite and what was your initial reaction?
Billy Bowman Jr.: I was actually in a team meeting before practice. Our head coach Brent Venables called me and some of my teammates to the front of the room. There was a box sitting there. I had no clue what it was. He told us to go ahead and open it. We opened it at the same time and sitting there was our invite to the Senior Bowl (laughs).
I had a huge smile on my face. Our teammates gave us a round of applause.
JM: That sounds like a special moment. What motivated you to accept the Senior Bowl’s offer?
Billy Bowman Jr.: I just feel like I have more to prove. This is a great opportunity for me to go compete against some of the top prospects in college football. I’m never going to back down from competition. Most of all, I love football. I’m excited to get another game under my belt before getting ready for the draft.
JM: We love that. What are you hoping to prove to NFL general managers, coaching staffs, and scouts in attendance in Mobile?
Billy Bowman Jr.: I want to prove that I’m the same productive player they see on tape. I play extremely fast. I’m a terrific communicator and leader that gets his 10 teammates on the field lined up correctly.
I’m very versatile. I can play man and zone coverage. I have great instincts.
JM: You’re very versatile. You played man and zone on tape. How would you describe your overall skill set? You have a ton of ball production and a ton of tackle production under your belt. Self-scout yourself for me. What are your best traits?
Billy Bowman Jr.: You can tell I’ve been playing football for a long time. I think that comes first. I arrived at The University of Oklahoma with the mindset that I wasn’t going to take a backseat to anybody. I competed for a starting job right away and I became a four-year starter.
I have great instincts and anticipation. I understand what offenses are trying to do. If I see it one time, I know it. I played offense my entire life before switching to defense. I can read things before they happen, and I think that’s because of my background on offense. I can read the play because I've played the other side of the ball.
Ultimately, I play fast. I’m going to get to the ball. I’m going to pursue the ball relentlessly. Nobody can outrun me. If a play breaks loose, I’m chasing it down. When the ball is in the air, as you saw on film, it’s mine. I’m a playmaker.
JM: We love your football IQ and confidence. Do you think you’ll play multiple positions in Mobile, and at the next level?
Billy Bowman Jr.: I plan on playing some nickel in Mobile. I also plan on playing some single-high safety. I want to show off that range.
JM: Would you compare yourself to any defensive backs at the next level?
Billy Bowman Jr.: Guys that I compare to, guys that I watch and try to emulate, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Tyrann Mathieu come to mind.
JM: Those are great choices. The NFL jersey swap is a big deal at the next level. Anybody you’re looking forward to adding to your jersey collection?
Billy Bowman Jr.: I would say Tyrann Mathieu again. I used to dye my hair as a little kid to look like him at LSU (laughs). He’s always been a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. He went through some battles and overcame adversity in his life.
JM: This has been an outstanding conversation. At the end of the week, what does a successful Senior Bowl look like for Billy Bowman Jr.?
Billy Bowman Jr.: It means I went out there and stayed true to myself. There’s nothing I have to overcompensate for. I’m going to play my game because I’m confident in my abilities. I’m excited to show the scouts that I’m somebody who knows how to prepare both physically and mentally.
I have a motor that can go all day.
