MORGANTOWN — Morgantown quarterback Maddox Bowers recently announced his commitment to play football at the next level.
In 2024, Glenville State is getting a well-polished thrower, hard-nosed runner and all-around great leader to join the Pioneers football team.
“This is a great opportunity to continue to play the game that I love,” Bowers said. “To be able to play at a great program that does the little things right is a great honor.”
For most of his high school career, Bowers has fought through injuries but has always come back a more-determined player. While rehabbing a shoulder injury this past summer, Bowers started to focus on what intangibles it would take to play football in college.
He participated in some camps and heard from some coaches, including Glenville State head coach Mike Kellar.
Kellar is in his fifth season leading GSU after previously holding head coaching roles at California (Pa.), Concord and Lenoir-Rhyne. He was also an offensive coordinator at West Liberty, Fairmont State and Northern Michigan.
He was a quarterback at Glenville in the late 1980s.
“I know Coach Kellar wants to develop me as a QB,” Bowers said. “I would have an opportunity to compete for a starting job down the line. When it comes to QBs, Coach Kellar is as good as it gets and he has had a lot of success.”
Despite the injuries his junior season, Bowers still threw for more than 1,600 yards in an offensive scheme that is usually run-first. He had 10 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown last year and is on pace to double those numbers this season.
On Sept. 16, Bowers visited the Glenville campus to see the Pioneers take on Notre Dame College. GSU came away with a thrilling 24-21 victory, and Bowers returned to Morgantown with a scholarship offer. He made his commitment to Glenville on Oct. 16.
“I always wanted to play in college, but I didn’t realize how difficult it would be at first,” Bowers said. “This summer is when a large part of the recruiting happens and I missed it because I was still rehabbing my shoulder surgery, but Coach Kellar and their staff were always in contact with me throughout the whole process.
“Their offensive system fits me as a player as good as any would.”
He’s also prepared to work in the classroom — and for an eventual life after football. He will major in secondary education with a focus on mathematics.
“Glenville has one of, if not the best, program for my major in the state of West Virginia,” Bowers said. “They have set up countless people for the future.”
Bowers’ father, John, is an alumnus of Bethany College, where he was an offensive lineman and was recently inducted into the sports hall of fame. He currently serves as athletic director for MHS and was a former state-champion football coach.
The Mohigans this year currently sit at 5-2 after a tough loss last week against Parkersburg South. The Morgantown players are ready to turn the page.
“As tough of a loss as it was, none of us throughout practice have focused on it,” Bowers said. “We still have everything we want to accomplish in front of us. With the opportunity to go 8-2 still in front of us, we are even more hungry to attack the rest of the season.”
This week’s test is a road game at John Marshall (1-7), coming off a 49-23 loss against Brooke. The Monarchs’ lone win of the season came against Warren (OH) in Week 6.
The senior leaders of the Mohigans know not to take any opponent lightly.
“We have had a leadership council and there have been many seniors that have been on it since we have been sophomores,” Bowers said. “The time given to us to be able to find our roles as leaders has definitely shown on the field and in practice. We have taken many leaps in the way we have approached this year, and Coach (Sean) Biser and our coaches here have really allowed us to be able to step in as leaders.”
BY MATTHEW PEASLEE
TWEET @DomPostSports
