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Southern California tight end Mark Bowman has made a name for himself by hurdling defenders and emerging as a star early in his college career. But the true freshman also has a unique habit: he prefers to be barefoot. Bowman walked into a Tuesday afternoon press conference without shoes and did the same when he entered the Coliseum field before the Washington game on Oct. 3, while he was sidelined with an injury.
"It's something that I'm kind of tuned into," Bowman told reporters. "I just like not weakening my feet by using the new age shoe. I think that it kind of puts your foot in an uncomfortable position, can cause injuries." He decided to give up shoes—at least at times—after experiencing problems with his big toe in high school. According to Bowman, going barefoot has made a difference and hasn't hindered his ability to leap over defenders or achieve stardom at USC.
One such hurdle came against Ohio State, where he didn't score but gained 70 yards. "He did jump over two guys, which is pretty impressive," receiver Trent Mosley said. "But after that, he had to truck a dude. So that was pretty impressive." Bowman has contributed in multiple ways for the Trojans, whether as a receiver or blocker. Despite missing three games due to injury, he has recorded 24 receptions for 283 yards this season, and Pro Football Focus gives him an 81.5 blocking grade.
Last season, Lake McRee and Walker Lyons were the two tight ends that allowed USC to frequently use 12 personnel. The Trojans haven't been able to replicate that success, but Bowman is fitting perfectly into a Lincoln Riley offense that thrives on tight ends. "He's an aggressive, confident kid by nature," Riley said, "and he's very attentive. He's learned quickly and then for anybody just to be able to step out there and make those types of plays, there's got to be some real inner belief. And I think he has that confidence."
Key Analysis
Bowman's barefoot approach is unconventional but has seemingly paid off for the freshman, who has quickly become a key contributor for the Trojans. His ability to learn quickly and make impactful plays has impressed coaches and teammates alike. As USC looks to improve its playoff chances with upcoming games against Indiana and UCLA, Bowman's performance will be crucial.
The Trojans have made 40 appearances in the College Football Playoff rankings since their inception in 2014 but have yet to make the playoffs. They have an opportunity to bolster their chances in November with games against No. 6 Indiana and No. 5 UCLA remaining on the schedule.
In other news, kickoff for USC's Nov. 14 road matchup against No. 6 Indiana is set for 12:30 p.m. PT and will be televised live on CBS. It marks the first time the Trojans haven't been featured on NBC prime time since Week 3, when they had a 12:30 p.m. kickoff against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.
Running back King Miller has been nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the best college football player in the country who began their career as a walk-on. Miller earned a scholarship after a 2025 season in which he rushed for 972 yards and eight touchdowns on 156 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per carry. His breakout game came against Michigan, when he ran 18 times for 158 yards and a touchdown while fellow backs Waymond Jordan and Eli Sanders were out with injuries. This season, Miller has collected 603 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 125 carries and has added seven catches for 41 receiving yards.
Originally reported by headtopics.