Four stars for Panthers' Bowman

If Mike Bowman was hoping to sneak up on football opponents this year, he can forget it.

An incredible offseason has propelled the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Ridgeland senior receiver from local star to national recruit. Bowman followed a junior season in which he caught 27 passes for 722 yards and 13 touchdowns with several standout camp showings that took him from a two-star prospect rating to four-star status, according to Rivals.com.

He enters the season as the 17th-ranked receiver prospect in the country by Rivals, which also lists him as the top receiver in Georgia and the state’s eighth-best overall recruit. Bowman said he has received more than 20 scholarship offers from NCAA bowl subdivision teams, including SEC schools Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Ole Miss as well as Southern California.

“Yeah, it’s been crazy,” said the brother of former Notre Dame High School and Oklahoma State star Adarius Bowman, now in the Canadian Football League. “I’m getting three or four offers every week, so it’s going really good for me. I’m getting closer to making my decision, and I’ll probably do it around the first game of the season.”

While recruiters figuratively hold their breath in anticipation of that decision, opposing high school coaches may well lose theirs watching highlights of Bowman and his Ridgeland running mates. But even on an offense that features a 2,000-yard running back in Terryl Freeman and a 1,000-yard passer in Carlan Bowman, Mike Bowman stands out.

“I can’t believe how much better he’s gotten since last year,” Panthers coach Mark Mariakis said. “Physically he’s just now coming into his own, and mentally he just understands the game and his position so much better. He understands so much better how to get open and not just rely on his physical advantage.

“Really, he’s got one good football season behind him and he’s ready for a truly breakout season. I think he’ll be on a different level than everybody else when he takes the field.”

Welcome to the big time.