When the Bakersfield College Renegades open the 2007 football season in August, Jacob Bower, a transfer student from Brigham Young University, will be wearing the red and white uniform at the quarterback position.

Bower, a 6’3 235-pound all-star player from Meridian, Idaho brings a wealth of talent that will enable an already dangerous offensive squad including a sophomore receiving core (Attrail Snipes and Brandon Banks) to assault opposing defenses through the air. Bower will compete for the starting position with other candidates including sophomore returnee Dustin Powell from Bakersfield Christian High.

“He is enrolled and has been working out with the team,” Jan Stuebbe, athletic director for BC, said. “He will earn his spot like all the other players.”

As a two-sport athlete (football and basketball) for Mountain View High in Meridian, Bower maintained honor roll status and was recognized for his athletic ability in both sports.

According to BYUCougars.com (BYU athlete profiles) some of the accolades that Bower assessed while in high school were 3-time offensive scoring leader; 3-timeAll-State 5-A team selection; player of the year as junior; and earned Gatorade All-American honors.

The outstanding all-around quarterback amassed 348 receptions for 4,300 yards before entering into his senior year. Bower also had 44 touchdown strikes to add to his portfolio of production.

“Bower was one of the top 25 high school quarterbacks in the nation,” Stuebbe said. “He played football and basketball and was highly recruited by Division I schools.

BYUCougars.com also reports that he received regional and national recognition as one of the top six quarterbacks regionally and was a Prep Star Magazine selection. Bower has a rifle for an arm as he won the Strongest Arm Award at the Annual BYU Football Camp.

As a state high school football superstar, many big time universities like USC and Texas Tech recruited Bower to play for their highly touted programs. That’s in football. North Carolina and Texas Tech also recruited Bower to play basketball.

Bower graduated from Mountain View High School in 2004 and elected to play for BYU, before transferring to BC for the 2007 season.

With BYU having the reputation of a quarterback dynasty with the likes of All-Pro alumni like Steve Young, Ty Detmer and Jim McMahon (just to name a few) there is always major competition at the quarterback position, so transferring to BC may be just what the doctor ordered for Bower. Time passing will tell for the highly touted quarterback.

Over the years Bakersfield College has been blessed with dynamic transfer players, especially quarterbacks, that have been productive for the ‘Gades and Bower should be no exception. Stuebbe stated that Bower is a skilled athlete and with all the talent that BC possesses expectations are running high for the 2007 football season.In 2006, Cody Stone joined the team as a transfer from Northern Colorado University. The addition of Stone to the BC roster paid off as Stone led the ‘Gades to the state semi-finals.

One thing is for certain, if Bower wins the starting spot and produces for the Renegade offense like he did for Mountain View High, the ‘Gades should be fun to watch and capture the 2007 state championship, especially with the talented receivers and running game that will return for BC.