Georgia football legend finishes school and receives a degree
The two-time national champion and one of the best tight ends in Georgia history walked across the stage and earned his degree.
ATHENS, Ga. — While he’s just a year out of school, a Georgia football legend returned and accomplished what many former players don’t: graduate.
On Friday, Georgia Athletics announced on social media that tight end Brock Bowers crossed the stage in Athens and earned his degree. According to the Georgia Athletics website, he majored in finance.
Bowers was joined by only a few fellow players, including senior wide receiver Dillon Bell and Luke Bennett, former quarterback Stetson Bennett’s younger brother.
The former Bulldog returned to the town where he made a name for himself. Bowers is widely considered the best tight end in Georgia history and won a pair of national championships and an SEC title during his time in Athens.
He finished his college career with an outstanding 2,538 receiving yards, 26 touchdowns and even 193 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.
While his stats were impeccable, his ability to catch nearly any football thrown his way and make key plays in key moments were big reasons UGA earned two national championships.
Bowers took that success to Las Vegas, as he was drafted No. 13 overall to the Raiders in the 2024 NFL Draft. He caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns, which broke records for rookie receptions and receiving yards by a rookie tight end. He was named a finalist for Offensive Rookie of the Year, but lost out to Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Shortly after the Raiders finished the 2024-2025 season, according to UGA Athletics staff member Austin Chambers, Bowers packed his bags, loaded up a full course schedule and made it his mission to graduate in 2025.
“This guy had one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, and still returned this spring and took a full course load to finish his degree. DIFFERENT,” Chambers said on social media.
Bowers only spent three seasons at Georgia, and amidst his success on the field for the Bulldogs, and breaking records in the NFL, he still graduated on time, around four years after enrolling.
Head coach Kirby Smart consistently praised Bowers as a player, but also highlighted his work ethic, which helped him find success on the field and in the classroom, helping him cross the academic finish line.“Generational, I mean, I don’t know how to say it any other way,” Smart said on Josh Pate’s College Football Show in 2024. “I don’t know if I’ve coached another guy quite like that. I mean, he’s just different. He’s just big, physical, fast, smart (and) no moment is too big for him. He’s gonna make somebody a really good player. He’s a high-character kid, and I don’t think I will see a kid like that at that position the rest of the time I coach, because I haven’t thus far. All the years I’ve coached, I’ve never seen one quite like that.”
