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Honors & Awards
2004 Outlook
One of the luxuries the Huskers have enjoyed in recent seasons is depth at many positions, which has given newcomers ample time to develop in the program. The lone catcher in this fall’s recruiting class, freshman Johnny Bowden will have a chance to develop behind two-year captain John Grose and sophomore Chad Steele. Bowden hit .200 in the Red/White Series, but the Husker coaches rave about the former all-state selection’s athleticism and defensive skills.
"Johnny has a bright future in this program," Coach Mike Anderson said. "He has a lot of athleticism, and it shows behind the plate where he is very strong defensively. He is in a perfect situation because he gets a chance to learn from our veterans and will see some time as he develops in our system."
Before Nebraska
Nebraska’s first baseball signee from the state of Oregon since Portland, Ore., native Steve Fish pitched for NU during the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Bowden played four seasons for Coaches Charlie Potucek and Dirk DuBois at Thurston High School in Springfield, Ore. As a senior, he earned second-team All-Class 4A (largest class) honors, hitting .400 with eight homers and 18 RBIs in 25 contests and was selected to play in the state all-star game. Over the summer, Bowden played for the Emerald Valley Titans, hitting .400 with five homers and 30 RBIs, helping the team to a 35-15 record. After earning honorable-mention all-conference honors as a junior, Bowden starred for the Oregon select team in the summer of 2002, batting .440 with five homers, 24 RBIs and 17 doubles. An accomplished three-sport athlete who earned a total of 11 letters in high school, Bowden was a four-year standout in baseball and wrestling. He won three district titles at 189 pounds, and also lettered three years in football. He was a two-time all-league linebacker. Bowden was a four-year scholar-athlete and selected Nebraska over Kansas and Boston College.
Personal Info
Birthdate: Aug. 15, 1984; Parents: Judy and Gary Bowden; Sisters: Christina and Emily; Major: History.
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Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
