Division I Commits Gordinier And Bowen Focused On Upcoming Season

Photo above: RBC’s Gordinier and Barnegat’s Bowen

WEST LONG BRANCH – Barnegat High School linebacker Manny Bowen and Red Bank Catholic linebacker Jamie Gordinier have one thing in common other than being two of the most dominate defensive players in the Shore Conference this season – both committed to Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools prior to their senior season of football.

Now, with the extreme pressures brought on by the unyielding recruiting process in their rear view mirrors, both players can focus on winning state titles for their individual schools after suffering hard-fought losses in last season’s playoffs as juniors.

Bowen, who boasts’ 32 FBS offers; saw his stock soar after a stellar junior season for the Bengals - his first at Barnegat. The highly sought - after recruit gave his oral commitment to the Penn State Nittany Lions after a June visit to the fabled school sealed the deal.

The versatile linebacker also played running back and wide receiver for the Bengals, but was recruited solely to play linebacker at Penn State.

Bowen was named first-team All-Shore by the Asbury Park Press and second-team All-Shore by the Shore Sports Network - as well as Class B South Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches. Bowen finished the 2013 season with 78 tackles, 15 for losses, and recorded 2.5 sacks with 22 quarterback pressures. He forced four fumbles and had three fumble recoveries while picking off four passes. On offense, Bowen caught 25 passes for 479 yards and seven touchdowns while also running for two more scores.

He led the Bengals to a school-record 10-win season, the Class B South title, and a berth in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III final – the first in program history. However, a 31-7 loss to Delsea in the South Jersey Group III final left Bowen with some unfinished business.

“Coming up so short and being so close was definitely heartbreaking last year,” Bowen said. “I have no doubts about it that we’ll be there this year and be able to win it all. I’d be more than honored to bring Barnegat its first state championship. We were so close last year and being able to finish the job my senior year would be a great accomplishment.”

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Gordinier verbally committed to the University of Miami to play under former Red Bank Catholic assistant coach and current Hurricane head coach Al Golden.

Following a monster junior season that generated over 20 FBS offers from the likes of Michigan State, Boston College, Virginia, Rutgers, West Virginia and Northwestern just to name a few, Gordinier gave his verbal commitment to Golden last June.

Gordinier, a hybrid linebacker/defensive end - who also plays tight end - was selected first-team All-Shore by the Shore Sports Network and third-team All-Shore by the Asbury Park Press. He finished the 2013 season with 86 tackles, eight tackles for losses, eight pass breakups, four sacks and 11 quarterback hurries on the best defense in the Shore Conference. He had 12 tackles and a tackle for a loss in the Caseys state playoff win over Immaculata and then registered 11 tackles against the No.1 ranked team in New Jersey, St. Joseph-Montvale, in their Non-Public Group III semifinal loss.

Gordinier helped the Caseys win their fourth straight division title and thirty third straight win against Shore Conference competition last season. This season, he hopes to lead the Caseys to their fifth straight division title after being realigned into the Class B North Division along with advancing to their first state final appearance since 1980.

“During the recruiting process it was crazy with all the phone calls, text messages and questions,” Gordinier said. “Now that I’m committed and locked into Miami it’s a lot easier and I can focus on helping my team win a state title.”

Bowen and Gordinier join Manasquan tight end/ linebacker Tanner Cowley (Virginia) and Bowen’s Barnegat teammate, offensive lineman Sam Bowen (Wisconsin), among the FBS commits for the Shore Conference Class of 2015 thus far.

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