ย the nationโs No. 1-ranked wide receiver and a consensus five-star prospect โ announced just after midnight that he has decommitted from Oregon and will instead suit up for the Tennessee Volunteers.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound playmaker out of Los Angeles stunned the college football world with the move, citing โhome, family, and trustโ as the decisive factors that led him to Rocky Top.
โThis wasnโt about NIL, hype, or pressure,โ Bowman told reporters in a late-night call. โTennessee was the only choice that felt like home. When I visited Knoxville, the love was different. Coach Heupel and his staff never promised me anything except the chance to be my best self โ and thatโs all I needed to hear.โ
Bowman had been committed to Oregon for nearly eight months, where he was expected to be the centerpiece of the Ducksโ 2025 recruiting class. His decision to flip comes just weeks before early signing day, throwing shockwaves across the recruiting landscape.
For Tennessee, this marks a monumental recruiting win. The Volunteers, who have steadily rebuilt under head coach Josh Heupel, now add one of the most explosive athletes in recent memory to their pipeline. Bowman, nicknamed โThe Highlight Reel,โ is known for his blazing speed, high-point catches, and ability to turn short gains into long touchdowns.
Recruiting analysts have already begun comparing the move to other famous late-night flips in college football history. โThis is program-altering,โ said recruiting insider Darren Woods. โBowman isnโt just the top receiver in the country; heโs the kind of player who elevates everyone around him. For Tennessee to win this battle against the West Coast powerhouse schools โ and SEC rivals โ shows how far theyโve come.โ
Bowmanโs announcement video, posted to social media just minutes after midnight, featured him walking through Neyland Stadium under the lights before pulling a bright orange Tennessee jersey from his backpack. The clip quickly went viral, garnering over two million views in the first two hours.
For Oregon, the loss stings deeply, though sources close to the program say the Ducks will continue to pursue top receivers to fill the gap.
As for Tennessee fans, the celebration has already begun. Thousands flooded message boards and social media with chants of โItโs great to be a Tennessee Vol,โ believing Bowman could be the piece that brings the program back to championship contention.
