When Eli Bowen committed to Oklahoma, his mother, Amee, couldn’t help but worry if he’d be overlooked by coaches.
Having played together since their flag football days, it’s been common for coaches to compare Eli to his brother Peyton. Peyton, an OU sophomore who was a five-star and consensus top 60 prospect out of high school, has gotten the favorable end of those comparisons over Eli, an OU freshman and former three-star recruit.
“I don’t think (Eli) lets it affect him,” Amee said of the comparisons. “He’s really stepped up to it. It made him want to be better.”
Five games into his freshman season, it’s clear head coach Brent Venables and his staff are not overlooking Eli.
“You want guys who when they get out there they know what to do … and so far, that’s a piece of it that he’s been really sound on,” Venables said of Eli ahead of No. 18 OU’s game against No. 1 Texas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. “He’s super coachable, he’s very skilled, he’s ahead of the curb (on his fundamentals).
“He’s been the model of consistency and he’s always ready. When I say the moment doesn’t seem too big (for him), that’s a big part of it, he’s ready. He’s earned the opportunity to get more playing time, and he’s going to be a really good player.”
The 5-foot-9 freshman barely saw the field leading up to OU’s 25-15 loss to Tennessee. Two of the Volunteers’ three leading receivers tower over Eli at 6-foot-5, and the other stands at 6-foot-3.
The size difference didn’t faze Eli.
According to Pro Football Focus, he has the highest coverage grade among all OU cornerbacks and has allowed two receptions for 14 yards on six targets this season.
“It’s definitely been a big stepping stone,” Eli said of his increased playing time. “It just gave me confidence to know that I can be out there and play how I should be playing.”
Despite the comparisons, Eli has always liked playing alongside his brother. When Peyton started receiving college offers as a high school sophomore, Eli joked about whether Peyton would mention him to college coaches so they could end up at the same school.
Their chances of playing together were in jeopardy from the time Eli — a fan of neon colors — chose to root for Oregon as a kid, and Peyton chose Clemson, where Venables spent nine years as a defensive coordinator.
As Peyton got older, he grew fond of Notre Dame, which he was committed to play at before choosing Oregon on national signing day and flipping to OU hours later. It was certainly a complicated recruiting process, but it landed him just hours away from the Bowens’ hometown of Corinth, Texas.
“One of the things Peyton wanted in staying close to home and choosing Oklahoma was his family to be able to be there in support,” said Amee, who’s made it to all 18 of OU’s games since Peyton arrived in 2023. “I just know that meant something (to him).”
Eli’s commitment came down to a few schools, including Texas, who OU will face in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday. He grew familiar with the Sooners’ coaching staff while accompanying Peyton on his visits to Norman, but it was Eli’s desire to play with Peyton that pushed him to commit to OU.
Now, Peyton and Eli both have turned into key pieces of the Sooners’ secondary as a safety and cornerback, respectively. In high school, offensively, Eli was a wide receiver and Peyton was a running back. They’ve always played slightly different spots, which has led them to see the game in different ways.
The brothers also hone different skill sets, Peyton being known for his physical attributes while multiple coaches have touted Eli as the “best kid they’ve ever coached, mentality-wise.”
Eli’s mentality is now a complement to Peyton’s physicality in OU’s secondary, and the trust they have for each other is apparent on the field.
“They read each other very well,” Amee said. “It’s just that different level of trust when it’s your sibling who you’ve played with for years, where you know they’re going to have your back and be there for you.”
Just like how their skill sets are different, their personalities are too. Peyton is the more social, outgoing brother while Eli is laid-back and more reserved than his older brother. Eli and Peyton still spend a lot of time with each other at OU, including going to church on Sundays and playing golf together.
Amee is no longer worried whether Eli will be overlooked by OU’s coaches after his surge in playing time and praise she’s heard from Venables and cornerbacks coach Jay Valai.
And she knows that no matter what happens on the field, Peyton and Eli will have each other’s backs when it matters most.
“I just never pictured that they’d be playing together,” Amee said. “It’s been great to see them grow together over this past year, and how much they’ve helped each other out and supported each other through all the changes and growth that’s expected. They’ve stepped up to that.”
