The UFL is all about providing unique opportunities to players. It isn’t very often that you see an NFL draft-eligible athlete sign with a UFL team, with the intention of being cut the very next week – but that is the case for newly signed Michigan Panthers QB Alan Bowman.
To fully understand the situation at hand, there’s some context. Panthers’ QB Danny Etling was knocked out of Sunday’s game against San Antonio, with a concussion. Due to concussion protocol, he will not be available for Friday night’s matchup against the Memphis Showboats.
Because of this, the Panthers needed to bring in an emergency quarterback, as each team is required to roster three signal callers on game day.
Enter Alan Bowman. Bowman, who is in the middle of preparing for the NFL draft, is the perfect example of “right place, right time” – and staying ready. Michigan was in desperate need, and it turns out that Alan fit the bill perfectly.
Bowman is currently in the DFW area already, training for the NFL draft. Earlier this week, he got a call from Michigan’s GM Steve Kazor, presenting him with an offer that certainly came out of left field. Interestingly enough, Alan’s dad is a friend of Steve’s, and was able to help get the two connected.
“I’m draft training right now here in Dallas, in the DFW area. I was actually throwing at 9am on Monday morning with my trainer, and I got off the field at about 11. Then I got a call from my agent – which led to a call from Steve [Kazor]. My dad told me that he talked with Steve, and that this could be a cool opportunity. So I hop on the phone and Steve says ‘our quarterback is out, and we don’t know how long he’s gonna be out for, and we’d love to have you on the team while he’s gone’. The pitch would be that I could come in and learn, and basically have a mini tryout for the UFL, but also get me into an offense running some formations and plays, to get myself ready for the NFL Draft on Saturday.”
For Alan, it was a relatively easy decision to accept the offer. Instead of continuing to train on his own the next several days, he now has the chance to practice with a bunch of professionals, and learn from some of the best. The UFL, being a stand alone professional league, features high end football players – and coaches. No matter what happens at the draft next weekend, this week with the Michigan Panthers can’t hurt Alan’s pro career at all.
“Obviously, getting into a mini-camp and then getting into training camp and making my way onto a roster is the goal. To be a guy who’s already had pro experience coming into that, is a huge advantage for me. That’s why when my team and I looked at this situation, we didn’t see a bad outcome out of it. It was a no brainer, I’m right here anyway. I’m a local guy, working out 15 minutes away from the Arlington facility, and I grew up five minutes from the South Lakes Carroll Stadium where they practice. It’s a crazy full circle moment which caught us by surprise, but it worked out well. Now I get to stay local, and go train with a bunch of high level guys.”
Alan Bowman being local to the Arlington area was one of the key factors in Michigan bringing him into the fold. We spoke with Michigan Panthers GM Steve Kazor, who noted that there were a few names that he was looking at. But, because of this short week, Michigan had their hands tied. They play on Friday – meaning the team needed to get someone in the building as soon as possible.
Due to the convenience of Alan already being in town, and the fact that he was able to get to the facility and have his contract signed within a few hours, it made perfect sense. Not to mention, Kazor likes what he sees in Alan. Bowman has size, adequate arm strength – and has Michigan connections; something that Steve values. Bowman was with the Wolverines for a couple of years from 2021-2022.
So far, the transition to the UFL has been seamless for Bowman. He began practicing with the team on Tuesday, and already has a nickname:
“It’s been great. All the guys have brought me in on short notice. I already have a nickname, ‘Big Red’, and I forgot to put sunscreen on so I really fit into that. Coach Marcel has been great. Obviously, the Panthers have a short week this week, they played on Sunday and now they have to turn around and play on Friday. Not only is it drinking from a firehose for me, but it kind of is like that for everyone. It’s an interesting experience for me, but I’m glad that I’m here.”
When it comes to coaching in the UFL, the Michigan Panthers feature some of the best. Head Coach Mike Nolan and OC Marcel Bellefuille have already made an impact on Alan, over the course of the last two days.
Bowman highlighted how Marcel’s CFL background has given him a different viewpoint on attacking space offensively:
“They [Coach Nolan and Bellefeuille] are very professional. I think schematically, it’s a lot of things that attack space. I know Marcel has some CFL background. Understanding that, and putting it into the UFL, it’s been fun. I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of Cliff Kingsbury, Jim Harbaugh, etc. – some pretty crazy offensive minds. To see a different perspective of it, and to learn a new way of thinking, has been good.”
What makes this story so unique is the fact that Alan is still heavily focused on preparing for the NFL Draft. This past season at Oklahoma State didn’t exactly go the team’s way, as they lost nine straight. This obviously hurt his draft stock, which is something he’s looking to steady moving forward.
For Alan, he isn’t “choosing the UFL over the NFL”. Instead, he’s using the UFL as a training ground for the next week, so to speak. Alan is providing the Panthers with an emergency quarterback, while the Panthers give him the chance to get practice reps with a full team around him.
Steve Kazor is being as flexible as possible with Alan, as well. Under normal circumstances, the Panthers would not be releasing their practice film to other organizations in the middle of a season. However, Kazor noted that they will allow Bowman to use the film of his reps, in order to get that footage in front of NFL front offices.
“I think it’s a unique situation, where I am still preparing for the NFL draft, and I still want to put my best foot forward. And, I believe that I can play in the NFL. But, you know what, I’m going to take these five days and instead of just prepping for the draft with my trainer, I’m getting NFL draft prep and actually practicing at the professional level with a bunch of guys who have played in the NFL, and a bunch of draft picks. I think it’s an advantage for me, to get this experience now, rather than to come into a mini-camp or something, and I haven’t looked a center in the eyes for six months. I haven’t taken a snap under center since December, so being able to get to practice again and get the real work in before the draft, is a blessing.”
In addition, he’s now getting to experience what it’s like to be a professional, before the NFL comes calling. Whether he’s brought into a mini-camp, or gets to play with a team in the preseason, he’ll have an idea of what he’s getting himself into.
“I think a cool experience for me too, is that I’ll be able to travel. You never know what can happen, and going on a business trip – can I show up on time? Can I make the meetings? Can I wear the right things? Heading into the NFL, let’s say if I’m on a team and we’re in the preseason playing an away game, it won’t be my first rodeo being a part of a professional business trip.”
While the plan is to release Alan Bowman early next week when Danny Etling returns, that’s exactly what attracted Bowman to this opportunity. It’s a perfect situation – he gets to get his feet wet professionally, while still focusing on the ultimate goal: the NFL draft.
At the same time, he’s proving to UFL teams, including the Panthers, why he deserves this opportunity. If the NFL doesn’t work out for Alan, he could potentially have a place to return – whether that’s with the Panthers, or another UFL organization.
“I’m really thankful to Steve Kazor for thinking of me, and bringing me in under his wing with the Michigan Panthers. I’m blessed to have this opportunity, and am looking forward to going up to Detroit and hopefully getting a win this Friday.”
What are your thoughts on Alan Bowman signing with the Michigan Panthers, with the intention of leaving next week for the NFL draft? Should the UFL look to attract more Draft-Eligible players moving forward? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!
