Football honors continue to roll in for Clarion University senior left offensive tackle Reggie Wells (Library, Pa. - South Park High) and junior defensive noseguard Troy Bowers (Columbus, Ohio - Westerville South).
Wells was selected to play in the Whataburger Cactus Bowl which will be played in Kingsville, Texas on January 10th. The game features the top senior NCAA Division II players in the nation with approximately 40 players invited to represent the East and West squads each. The game will be played at Javelina Stadium with kickoff set for 6:30pm.
Also announced recently were the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) and D2 Football.com All-America teams.
Wells was selected as a First Team All-American on the offensive line on the AFCA squad, while being named as a second team All-American on the D2 football squad.
Bowers, meanwhile, was chosen as a First Team All-America on the D2 Football team.
"The honors for both players are really well deserved," said Clarion head coach Malen Luke. "Both are quality young men, outstanding leaders and have made great contributions to Clarion football in their careers.
Wells, a 6-4, 310-pound, senior, left offensive tackle, has been scouted by every NFL team his senior season. A quick, strong and agile lineman, Wells runs a 5.0 - 40 yard dash and is known for getting two and three blocks on individual plays. He helped lead Clarion's running game to the #1 spot in the PSAC while averaging 273 yards per game. That total also ranked 6th in all of NCAA Division II in the regular season. Clarion also posted its top two single game rushing performances this year when the Eagles ran for 519 yards against Glenville State in a 59-38 win, and 468 yards against Lock Haven in a 34-31 victory. Wells was First Team PSAC-West pick in 2002 and 2001, plus was a Football Gazette Honorable Mention All-American last year. He was a four-year starter and one of the team captains in 2002. Reggie is a Communication major and the son of Diane and Reggie Wells. His father (Reggie) was a basketball All-American at Clarion and a 1990 Clarion Sports Hall of Fame inductee.
Bowers, who was named PSAC-West Defensive "Player of the Year" three weeks ago, led the entire PSAC with 27 tackles for loss for a -109 yards, and in quarterback sacks with 12 qb sacks for -77 yards. He finished the season with 70 tackles (39 solos), 2 fumbles caused and a blocked kick and was one of four team captains.
A three year starter, Bowers was a first team PSAC-West choice in 2000 when he led the PSAC in tfl's with 20 (-77 yards) and posted 8 sacks for -42 yards along with 41 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. As a freshman in 1999 he had 33 tackles, 6 tfl's and 4 sacks and he sat out the 2001 season. In his career Bowers has accumulated 144 tackles (70 solos), 53 tfl's for -218 yards, 24 qb sacks for -149 yards and 5 fumbles caused. He is the son of Deborah Bowers.
CLARION NOTES: Clarion posted a 7-4 overall record in 2002 and finished the PSAC-West with a 3-3 league mark. Ninth year head coach Malen Luke has a Clarion record of 48-50. He led Clarion to PSAC-west titles in 1996 and 2000 and the NCAA "Final Four" in 1996. His 15-year collegiate record stands at 85-71.
