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Los Angeles (Calif.) Pierce College four-star safety Gerald Bowman has seen a lot of USC this year.
However, 10 games into the season, Saturday was Bowman's first full game day experience at USC. But as with his previous trips to the Coliseum, Saturday's visit was cut short.
NCAA rules restrict colleges from having contact with recruits on competition days. With Pierce College playing Saturday, Bowman had to attend the Trojans 40-17 win over Washington as a fan.
"That was actually my first game experience," said Bowman. "I've been to numerous practices, but that was my first time seeing the fans and the intensity level of the players and coaches.
"I got their late, so I didn't really get to see the coaches or players in warm ups. I actually didn't get to talk to the coaches afterward either. Because I had a game that day, it's a no-contact period for them.
"I couldn't even call them and talk to them. So really, I just went down to see the fans and how the team performed. The fans, they are wild. That's for sure."
Bowman has seen USC from the first day of fall camp to the Trojans' last game. With that frame of reference, junior college's No. 2 ranked players nationally has been impressed with the progression of this year's defense.
"I've definitely been watching the safeties like T.J. McDonald, as well as the corners," said Bowman. "They have been impressive. They play with a lot of passion and I think that's important.
"It's good to know your teammates are into it with you and that you're going t do whatever it takes to get that win. You can tell their DBs love to make plays. When they have an opportunity to make a play and don't, it's obvious that they're disappointed.
"But they forget about it and move on to the next play - as every DB should. I enjoyed seeing that. It was cool to see how they play and interact as a group."
To this point, Bowman has officially visited Cal and Oklahoma. Both schools remain among under consideration, with the Sooners becoming one of his top two college choices.
"Right now, [my leaders] would be between Oklahoma and SC," said Bowman. "It's never over until you actually sign your letter of intent, but it's a short period of time and I'm just praying about it. I still have to talk it over with my family to see which situation is best for me."
Bowman is weighing his decision heavily on his relationship with his future teammates and coaches. At Oklahoma, he met up with former USC recruit and San Diego (Calif.) native Tony Jefferson.
"Yeah, I met Tony and Aaron Colvin," said Bowman. "Tony was telling me about how he was committed to SC and stuff. He's a cool dude.
"The preparation those guys put into game day is crazy. I can't really compare it to USC because I haven't seen USC like that yet, but it was different than what I saw at Cal.
"I haven't see the walk-throughs or pregame rituals at USC yet, but at Oklahoma, the players and the coaches relationships are tight. That stood out to me. The way everything was handled was really cool."
Oregon was also a school under consideration, but the Ducks and Bowman recently parted ways.
"Coach [John] Neal called me up and let me know that they were going to just go with one of their high school safeties," said Bowman. "We had talked before, but I didn't even know they had a commitment from another safety.
"They were recruiting me, but now they feel like their young guys are stepping up big and it wouldn't be fair to me to come in a compete with that. Those guys have actually played a good amount of snaps this season, and they're happy with what they have.
"Really, they were up front with me and did it in a respectful manner, so I'm very appreciative of that. It was cool."
Bowman has three official visit spots left, with two dates already set for trips to USC and Miami.
"I visit Miami on Dec. 9, I believe and then I have USC Dec. 2," said Bowman. "I'm still trying to get out early, so Miami is probably my last scheduled trip."
However, 10 games into the season, Saturday was Bowman's first full game day experience at USC. But as with his previous trips to the Coliseum, Saturday's visit was cut short.
NCAA rules restrict colleges from having contact with recruits on competition days. With Pierce College playing Saturday, Bowman had to attend the Trojans 40-17 win over Washington as a fan.
"That was actually my first game experience," said Bowman. "I've been to numerous practices, but that was my first time seeing the fans and the intensity level of the players and coaches.
"I got their late, so I didn't really get to see the coaches or players in warm ups. I actually didn't get to talk to the coaches afterward either. Because I had a game that day, it's a no-contact period for them.
"I couldn't even call them and talk to them. So really, I just went down to see the fans and how the team performed. The fans, they are wild. That's for sure."
Bowman has seen USC from the first day of fall camp to the Trojans' last game. With that frame of reference, junior college's No. 2 ranked players nationally has been impressed with the progression of this year's defense.
"I've definitely been watching the safeties like T.J. McDonald, as well as the corners," said Bowman. "They have been impressive. They play with a lot of passion and I think that's important.
"It's good to know your teammates are into it with you and that you're going t do whatever it takes to get that win. You can tell their DBs love to make plays. When they have an opportunity to make a play and don't, it's obvious that they're disappointed.
"But they forget about it and move on to the next play - as every DB should. I enjoyed seeing that. It was cool to see how they play and interact as a group."
To this point, Bowman has officially visited Cal and Oklahoma. Both schools remain among under consideration, with the Sooners becoming one of his top two college choices.
"Right now, [my leaders] would be between Oklahoma and SC," said Bowman. "It's never over until you actually sign your letter of intent, but it's a short period of time and I'm just praying about it. I still have to talk it over with my family to see which situation is best for me."
Bowman is weighing his decision heavily on his relationship with his future teammates and coaches. At Oklahoma, he met up with former USC recruit and San Diego (Calif.) native Tony Jefferson.
"Yeah, I met Tony and Aaron Colvin," said Bowman. "Tony was telling me about how he was committed to SC and stuff. He's a cool dude.
"The preparation those guys put into game day is crazy. I can't really compare it to USC because I haven't seen USC like that yet, but it was different than what I saw at Cal.
"I haven't see the walk-throughs or pregame rituals at USC yet, but at Oklahoma, the players and the coaches relationships are tight. That stood out to me. The way everything was handled was really cool."
Oregon was also a school under consideration, but the Ducks and Bowman recently parted ways.
"Coach [John] Neal called me up and let me know that they were going to just go with one of their high school safeties," said Bowman. "We had talked before, but I didn't even know they had a commitment from another safety.
"They were recruiting me, but now they feel like their young guys are stepping up big and it wouldn't be fair to me to come in a compete with that. Those guys have actually played a good amount of snaps this season, and they're happy with what they have.
"Really, they were up front with me and did it in a respectful manner, so I'm very appreciative of that. It was cool."
Bowman has three official visit spots left, with two dates already set for trips to USC and Miami.
"I visit Miami on Dec. 9, I believe and then I have USC Dec. 2," said Bowman. "I'm still trying to get out early, so Miami is probably my last scheduled trip."
