'Elevating the standard': Why Billy Bowman Jr. leads like a lion, plays with passion ahead of OU's SEC move

Billy Bowman Jr. sat alongside his father in Brent Venables’ office one day removed from Oklahoma’s 69-45 win over TCU on Nov. 24.

The safety was undecided on his future as he prepared for a meeting with OU’s head coach and Billy Bowman Sr. He was weighing whether to enter the 2024 NFL Draft or return to the Sooners for one final season ahead of their move to the SEC.

But the conversation was quick.

Venables emphasized the importance of Bowman Jr.’s potential return and the progress he could potentially make if he stayed one more season. On the walk back to the car from the Barry Switzer Center, five words cemented the player’s future in Norman.

“Dad, I’m not done yet,” Bowman Jr. said.

After a career year, Bowman Jr. finished with six interceptions — three of which were pick sixes — and tallied the most interception return yards in OU history. He also had 63 total tackles and four deflections, garnering him First Team All-American honors from CBS Sports.

“Coach” Billy Bowman helping Jay Valai and Brandon Hall monitor the DB drills. #Sooners pic.twitter.com/HVoRxCycls

— Mason Young (@Mason_Young_0) March 27, 2024

Under Venables, who helped guide defensive backs A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Simmons, Jayron Kearse and others to the NFL, Bowman Jr. received draft grades as high as the second round, according to Bowman Sr. If he had decided to declare, he likely would’ve become the first OU safety to be selected in the NFL draft since Delarrin Turner-Yell in 2022.

But the elite draft prospect is in search of more.

Four years ago, Bowman Jr. considered committing to Texas out of high school, and was tempted to jump ship with Lincoln Riley when he was hired at USC in 2021. Now, just three weeks before Oklahoma’s spring game on April 20, Bowman Jr. will step on the field as the unquestioned leader of OU’s secondary.

“Billy has given himself wholeheartedly to this university and this football team,” OU safeties coach Brandon Hall told the OU Daily in December. “Billy was very adamant about wanting to come back feeling his best football will be ahead of him. He also felt like he could be a better leader and a mentor.”

For Bowman Jr., the draft was questionable but Oklahoma was certain.

The Sooners have everything Bowman Jr. wants: a family-like atmosphere, a coach that pours into him daily and a program that provides all the opportunities to improve his craft on and off the field.

“Perfection is not attainable, so you can never get enough of it,” Bowman Sr. said of his son’s mentality. “You're never gonna get there, but you can try to get there. … He loves the process and always trusts it and does whatever it takes.”

When Venables asked Bowman Jr. to grow as a vocal leader last season, the junior safety, who spends hours in the weight room and studying the game, stepped up. It’s why, with one more season, he believes he can help the Sooners improve.

Billy Bowman was asked about the upcoming challenge in the SEC. His response?“We indeed are ready. I’ll go out there right now with my guys and play against anybody.”@BetUS_Official pic.twitter.com/SOzlSUsAo8

— The REF (@KREFsports) March 27, 2024

And most of all, he knows he has all the tools to get there.

“You can't get enough development,” Bowman Sr. said. “There were some personal things in there (with his decision). Obviously, getting a degree and being legendary where you are at. The NFL is not going anywhere. If it doesn't equal out, the job is not finished yet. … He felt that the job wasn't done yet.”

‘He’s a damn lion’

Shane Tolleson remembers watching Bowman Jr. sit to the left of his desk every day, absorbing film.

Bowman Jr.’s demeanor was the same as it is now: stone cold, focused and determined. He often asked the former Denton Ryan High School defensive coordinator to rewind the video, gauging every step of a play from start to finish.

“He did not have to tell you that he was good,” Tolleson said. “When a lion walks out of the trees, he doesn't have to tell you he’s a damn lion. When he comes out from the trees, everyone knows that's a lion. You better watch out, because that is Billy Bowman Jr.”

Bowman Jr.’s talent has spoken for itself throughout his career, but Venables and OU’s coaching staff needed more from him following a 6-7 campaign in 2022. Now, the safety has become multifaceted from his play to his leadership, and has affected the game and his team on every level.

“Everyone talks about Billy’s skill set, which is true,” Hall said. “Let's be honest though, you don't make the tackles, the assists, the PBU’s and the interceptions he’s making unless he's running to the ball each and every snap. The football gods, so to speak, they reward you for your effort.

“You can call the team up and break the huddle and nobody's gonna listen to a word you say. But, Billy man, he's earned that right. He's earned that right as a player. He's earned that right because of how he practices, not just how he plays. And I think he's starting to see that he can make an impact and change the game in that avenue as well.”

In high school, Bowman Jr.’s leadership showcased itself in similar fashions. He was always the first in the gym and the last one to leave the Raiders’ facilities.

A week before a playoff game in 2019, Bowman Jr. and his teammates were working on drills. Tolleson was crunched on time, due to playoff game prep, and Bowman Jr. went up and said “No, coach. We have to do that again.”

Tolleson then instructed the group of players to repeat the drills. It was in those small moments that Bowman Jr.’s vocal leadership first began to take root, eventually allowing him to flourish at Oklahoma.

“If you’re not all in, he doesn’t connect with you,” Tolleson said. “Mediocre people don't like high achievers and high achievers don't like mediocre people. He doesn't mess with them.”

Bowman Jr. finished his high school career as a four-star recruit, holding offers from Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Georgia and LSU. He was Denton Ryan’s pinnacle two-way star, hauling in 86 receptions for 1,207 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and one interception in his senior season.

When looking back on his freshman season, Bowman Jr. sees the flaws. But Pat Fields, a former OU safety from 2018-21 who helped mentor the young defensive back, remembers a young, skinny Bowman Jr. leading the pack, imperfections and all. There, Fields witnessed his slow but steady immersion of his on-field talents with his growing knowledge and leadership of the game.

“The perfect way to sum him up and his work ethic is like Kobe (Bryant),” Fields told the OU Daily. “I would imagine that the same way he's working now is like the same way he was working as a freshman, but I think with time he’s evolved, and he’s just now seeing some of the fruits of his labor.”

In 2021, Fields and Bowman Jr. would travel to Midwest City, 30 minutes from campus, and eat at TEZ WINGZ, a hole-in-the-wall chicken restaurant. There, Bowman Jr. would sit down with Fields, asking questions ranging from life to football.

In Bowman Jr.’s eyes, he was soaking in the knowledge of someone who knew the game and the position. However, the then-senior safety was learning his own lessons from the talented freshman.

“As crazy as it sounds, I feel like in some ways us older guys were learning from Billy,” Fields said. “The thing that's funny with Billy was always the one elevating the standard. In a lot of ways, he was teaching us.”

Three years later, Bowman Jr. has solidified his role as one of the top safeties in the nation, gracing the field and stalking offenses like a prowling lion. He reads the quarterback like it's his prey, and he jumps at passes like he’s going in for the kill.

Although it wasn’t always that way, or that seamless, the lessons learned from Fields and a strong foundation implemented by Venables and OU’s coaching staff have taught him how to hunt.

Without Venables' knowledge and commitment to Bowman Jr., the safety's own passion for the game, he might be playing elsewhere.

“Venables came and just stamped that environment of family,” Tolleson said. “I think he kind of set it up to a whole new level. (Billy’s) looking to be cared about and if he knows you love him, he's gonna play his balls off for you.”

‘Do I go to USC with coach Riley?’ 

In December 2021, days following Riley’s surprising departure to USC, Bowman Jr. mulled over his future at OU.

The former four-star recruit had to decide if he should stay or go after his initial reason for coming to the university was leaving for Los Angeles. According to Bowman Sr., Riley was one of the lone reasons Bowman Jr. decommitted from the Longhorns on Oct. 7, 2020, and joined the Sooners less than a month later.

In one season under former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, Bowman Jr. played as a combo nickelback, safety and cornerback, garnering 22 total tackles, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. The plan after that season was to move Bowman Jr. to offense so he could play wide receiver in 2022.

“He has so many skill sets,” Bowman Sr. said. “He was a freshman, and he was doing too much. … Knowing that, he never had a chance to be great. He was good at those things — playing on offense and defense — but he never got great at anything because of that.”

Those decisions, spearheaded by Riley, were early signs that ultimately led to his surprise departure from OU. In the background, Bowman Jr. was lost in who he was supposed to be and struggled under a coach who was doing the same.

“He kind of felt Lincoln was gonna do it, like everybody else knew he was gonna do something that was not right,” Bowman Sr. said. “When we played Oklahoma State, something was not right.”

Those questionable feelings were confirmed the night of the Sooners’ loss to the Cowboys.

“Dad, I knew it, I knew it,'' Bowman Jr. said following Riley’s surprise departure, and in that moment, his once solidified future in Norman, melted away.

“He came to me,” Bowman Sr. said, “and asked ‘Do I get in the transfer portal? Do I go to USC with coach Riley?’ … I told him he’s never done anything because someone else has done something. He needed to wait it out.”

So, instead of entering the portal like former OU quarterback Caleb Williams, receiver Mario Williams and others, Bowman Jr. waited.

And Brent Venables entered.

The defensive-minded coach previously helped Clemson win two national championships and had units ranked in the top 15 in total defense eight seasons in a row. Bowman Jr. was one of the first players to enter Venables' office, and there the then first-year head coach laid out his vision for his future.

No more moving around the field, Venables proposed. He would play solely as a strong safety.

“I want to start off by saying I can play whatever position on the field,” Bowman Jr. said last Monday. “But by them coming in and saying that, ‘We're gonna stick you at strong safety,’ that helped me gain some assurance and reassurance that I could do this and I can play this position at a high level.”

In the same vein as his 2023 meeting with Venables would later take, Bowman Jr. made an immediate decision. The Denton, Texas, native called home and said, “He reminds me of coach Tolleson. I’m staying, Dad. I’m staying.”

“The Venables connection, me and him are very similar,” Bowman Jr. said. “That's how we're connected, and I'm a guy who doesn't say much, but when I get out here, I'm intense and yelling all the time. I'm demanding perfection from others and from myself. I feel like that's how we connect.”

The proof is in his play, and since Bowman Jr. has solely focused on a single position and a defensive strategy, he has tallied nine interceptions, 122 total tackles and three touchdowns.

“He waited it out and look at what happened,” Bowman Sr. said. “He has a defensive minded coach and (he’s) playing defense, (I knew he was) going to be in a great position. That’s where we are now.”

Some high praise from Brent Venables on Billy Bowman today, crediting his mentality and consistency through fall camp so far“Right now, playing maybe better than anybody on defense if I were to single one person out.” #Sooners pic.twitter.com/vnyeuGLDoa

— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) August 16, 2022

From the moment he was hired, Tolleson knew the type of impact the OU head coach would have on Bowman Jr.’s life. That’s why he believes, long after his career is over, Bowman Jr. 's relationship with Venables will continue to pay dividends.

While the safety's sights are currently on the NFL, his knack for coaching has become clear. During drills, the junior safety can be seen shadowing Hall and co-defensive coordinator Jay Valai, and those close to Bowman Jr. know that days spent learning on the sidelines in practice might turn into a game-time reality.

“I don't know Brent Venables as a person,” Tolleson said. “But, I'll tell you this. What I do know, with all my heart, I believe that Venables serves the same God I do. I believe just like I would die for Billy Bowman, Jr., I believe Venables is going to take care of Billy Bowman Jr. way past football. He just punched a ticket to be on the Venables coaching tree coattail for the rest of his life.

“I think Venables doesn’t know what he really has. And, I think Billy Bowman Jr. doesn’t know what he just got.”

‘The ability to see beyond tomorrow’

Following the completion of OU’s first open spring practice, Bowman Jr.’s eyes were glued to the exit of Oklahoma’s Everest Indoor Training Center.

But a throng of media members stood in his way, gathering around the All-American safety in his first media appearance since the Alamo Bowl. In between questions, he anticipated a gathering in OU’s Barry Switzer Center.

Since the start of OU’s spring camp, Bowman Jr. has been leading film studies with OU’s defensive backs, particularly freshman safeties Jaydan Hardy, Michael Boganowski and Reggie Powers III. They go over film from OU’s previous practices. Bowman Jr. will then show them some tape from his previous seasons, even comparing his freshman play to him now.

Bowman Jr. is not only leading by example, but he’s — in his own words — passing down the OU standard. During OU’s open spring practices, Bowman Jr. could be seen coaching up players and holding tackle dummies next to Hall.

“Whenever he speaks? Listen,” Boganowski said during OU’s newcomer media availability in March. “It’s almost like he's a coach. I thought he was more of a quiet guy, but since I got in the room, he's actually a pretty vocal leader. “

If you ask Bowman Jr., there's more to improve on ahead of the Sooners first season in the SEC. The Sooners defense was inconsistent at best last season, allowing just over 250 yards through the air and 138 rushing yards per game.

The junior safety thinks progress starts with his leadership.

“I'm still getting better at knowing what everybody next to me is doing,” Bowman Jr. said. “I know what it was like to be as a freshman. You come in here from high school, you used to dominate everything, and you come in here and things don't go your way. I've been watching film with them probably after every practice. It's not just clicking right away. It’s a process.”

Notably, another part of Bowman Jr.'s future off the field was recently set into stone. The junior safety proposed in December to OU softball’s star center fielder Jayda Coleman, who he’s been in a relationship with for more than four years.

In her own right, Coleman has become a superstar at Oklahoma, in some ways outshining her fiancé. She’s become one of the best softball players in the nation, tallying eight home runs and 27 RBIs so far this season. Coleman has also been a primary catalyst for OU’s three straight Women’s College World Series championships.

According to Bowman Jr.’s mother, Keeley, the pair pushes each other with their individual greatness. Coleman’s play has even led Venables to joke that she has “Better BallSkillz” than Bowman Jr. on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

“They're just inseparable,” Keeley said. “They know what it takes to be an amazing athlete, and they push each other. I think both of them have helped each other grow into the people that they are just because they know what it takes. They’re probably each other's biggest fan and biggest support system.”

His commitment to Coleman and Oklahoma, in Fields’ eyes, is another element of his growing character.

“I could rave about Billy all day,” Fields said. “Nowadays, guys care a little bit more about followers and money. Billy, he could have left for the NFL but I think he's very, very intentional about doing things.

“Sure, he's great at football, but who he is as a man is the most impressive thing. The way he carries himself, he respects everybody and works hard.”

Bowman Jr. is one of the five remaining players from OU’s 2021 recruiting class, which had 16 overall commits.

A lot has changed for Bowman Jr., but he hasn’t. He’s the same player, just with revised expectations.

“What they say is right. … Once you come into college, the same people are not going to be there when you leave,” Bowman Jr. said at the Alamo Bowl. “Being here shows the loyalty we have for this school, for this program, for these teammates, and coaches. But going into my senior year, obviously I want to finish out on the right note.”

His development has served as an example, and more success is on the horizon in 2024. But as Bowman Jr. takes Owen Field next season in the conference that just means more, he will stand as a reminder of how far someone can go, if they stay in the same place.

“He has the understanding of, ‘OK if I want to be a first rounder this is what I need to be doing as a freshman,’ and he was doing that years ago.” Fields said. “That's the scary part. Because a lot of guys, they can't be intentional, deliberate and diligent on something for a long span of time.

“That’s why he stands out the most because I think he just has the ability to see beyond tomorrow. He's always working. He's present at the moment. He's imagining something he wants to be, putting in the work and paying the lease for it every single day.”

That is not Bowman Jr.’s focus, though. Each day is a new one, with different challenges and expectations.

Like his father always tells him, he’s keeping his feet where they are.

This story was edited by Louis Raser and Gracie Rawlings. Grayson Blalock copy edited this story.