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News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

A Large Presence, Kevin Bowen Adjusts From Division II To NFL

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At 6-foot-9, 330 pounds, Kevin Bowen has quite a bit to learn at the NFL level, but the tackle has the physical traits that could get him a long way in the professional ranks.

There aren't too many players in the NFL that came from schools below the Division I level, but the Washington Redskins think they might have find a diamond in the rough from a little known Division II school.

Check out photos of the entire 2016 Washington Redskins offseason active roster in action.

The Redskins recently signed tackle Kevin Bowen out of East Central (Okla.), which is a member of the Great American Conference.

Bowen is best known for his size, as he's 6-foot-9 (tallest on the Redskins' current 90-man roster) and weighs 330 pounds.

But he also has quite a bit of talent, too, that he's hoping to showcase as a member of the Redskins.

That starts with working at right tackle, a position he's not quite as familiar with after being East Central's left tackle the last two seasons.

"It's tough," Bowen admitted to Redskins.com. "I have never played right tackle and that's what I'm practicing here. My whole college career, even junior college, I was at left so it's a whole new system I've got to learn."

And like most rookies, heralded first-round picks included, Bowen's biggest adjustment has been the speed of the game.

"The walkthrough feels like game time at my other school, so that's how it appears different," Bowen said. "Its mind and physical. The whole time my right leg was my post leg on the left side and that's where I had all my power coming from so when I switch it over my left leg is a little bit weaker than my right. I got to get that stronger and it's a little bit of a mental thing. I feel stronger on my left and not as much on my right so I need to and just get better off of that."

Bowen started his college career at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, Calif., before joining East Central as a junior.

During his senior season in 2015, Bowen helped anchor a potent Tigers offense that set a single-season record for yards with 4,942

Bowen was also named to the 2015 All-Great American Conference First Team.

He's joining an offensive line that has quite a bit of talent, particularly at the tackle position.

Trent Williams is a perennial Pro Bowler, while Morgan Moses appears to be on the rise after a breakout sophomore season in 2015.

Beyond working with those two veterans, Bowen gets to learn under offensive line coach Bill Callahan, who has established himself as one of the best position coaches in the NFL today.

"It's almost like him and my offensive line coach -- Tim McCarty from East Central -- have the same personality," Bowen said. "I click easy with them so it's easier to learn with them. Even during hard coaching I don't take it as hard coaching they just want me to know the process, learn these steps and the plays so that's who I go with. They are just very similar in that aspect. He is a little bit funnier than my DII coach."

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