USC’s freshman wave keeps rolling, and this time Mark Bowman was the one who looked like the next big thing.
The tight end announced himself in a major way Saturday night against Louisiana, catching a team-high six passes for 83 yards and scoring his first two career touchdowns in the Trojans’ 49-30 win. He did all of it in the first half, then watched the second half from the sideline after taking a hard shot on his second score.
For a player who entered the night with six catches for 45 yards across USC’s first two games, it was a huge leap. Bowman nearly doubled his season yardage in one game and finished with more receiving yards than any Trojan tight end has posted since Anthony McCoy’s 153-yard game against Notre Dame in 2009.
He also became the first USC tight end with multiple touchdowns since Josh Falo did it in a 43-42 loss to Utah on Oct. 15, 2022.
The best snapshot of Bowman’s night came late in the first quarter. On a play-action throw, he slipped behind the linebackers, caught the ball near the left hash marks and immediately turned upfield.
Then came the highlight: with a cornerback closing from the outside and a safety arriving from the top, Bowman launched himself and hurdled both defenders in one motion before continuing downfield. He was finally brought down nine yards later.
That play showed the open-field juice USC has been waiting to see, but Bowman was just as valuable in tight spaces. His first touchdown came on a five-yard catch in the first quarter, where he settled in between three defenders.
His second came early in the second quarter on a nine-yard grab, and he absorbed a heavy hit between a cornerback and safety to finish the play. Those red-zone catches helped USC cash in on all four of its trips inside the 20, turning them into 28 points.
Afterward, Bowman gave credit to the people around him - the line, Jayden Maiava’s throw, and the practice work that finally carried over into a game.
"Coach Riley put stuff in practice week by week that shows up in the game, and it's been amazing to see that unfold really live in action," Bowman said postgame. "You see those looks in practice, and it comes to fruition in the game."
Lincoln Riley liked what he saw, especially Bowman’s ability to turn catches into extra yards. Bowman led the Trojans with 42 yards after the catch.
"He's dangerous when he gets the ball in the open field," Riley said after Bowman led the team with 42 yards after the catch. "[It's] good to see him make some plays after the catch and get in the end zone a couple times."
Trent Mosley, another freshman making noise early this season, said the sideline reaction to Bowman’s hurdle said plenty.
"We were on the sideline going crazy. He's special. He's real special."
Bowman’s night wasn’t spotless. He was flagged for holding, something he expects tight ends coach Chad Savage will bring up in film study.
And Maiava’s first interception of the season came on a throw meant for Bowman on USC’s opening drive, a mistake both sides called a miscommunication. Even so, Maiava still put together a big night of his own, finishing 19 of 29 for 261 yards and a career-high five touchdowns with a 191.1 passer rating.
Bowman’s performance also fit into a bigger USC story: the freshmen are already shaping this team. Bowman pointed to the early enrollment of 32 freshmen this spring as a big reason the offense has come together so quickly. Riley said the young group has been central to USC’s start.
"If there's another team having more young guys contribute in the country right now, I'd love to see it," Riley said. "Our trajectory should be even higher because of how many young guys are playing and learning and playing their first games."
Next up, Bowman and the rest of USC’s freshmen get a different kind of test. The Trojans travel 2,800 miles for their first road game of the season, heading to Rutgers on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT/12:30 p.m PDT.
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