Kam Bowdry (96) has developed into a mainstay on the Southern Illinois defensive line. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Dan Verdun
Both Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill and Kam Bowdry remember the phone call that got the defensive tackle headed to Carbondale.
“As soon as I got into the (transfer) portal, Coach Hill called me,” Bowdry said. “From there, I just felt at home as a Saluki.
“There were a lot of schools out there looking, but having the head coach call you and tell you (that) you were a guy that they wanted and that you could play now got me wanting to be a Saluki.”
The 6-foot-2, 291-pound Bowdry was certainly a player HIll and his staff wanted to add to their defensive front.
“I can remember where I was standing in my old house when I got Kam on the phone. I had a long conversation with him,” Hill said. “I knew a coach who had vouched for him . . . He’s one of those guys that I wanted to get.”
After all, Bowdry had put up impressive numbers for UT Martin, his previous school. More importantly for Hill and his staff, the St. Louis native looked like a potential impact player on film.
Over his three seasons at SIU, Bowdry worked to improve his game – including time with the scout team.
“Our starting defensive line goes out there and gives us looks on scout cards for our offense,” Hill said. “Kam is out there taking extra reps and just playing hard. That’s showing up on Saturdays.”
Opposing coaches have taken notice.
“I was impressed with Kam Bowdry, their nose guard,” North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz said last week. “Good player. He does a great job of splitting the formation, keeping the ball front side (and) not letting it (the run) cut back.”
Bowdry was credited with six tackles against NDSU, bringing his season total to 32.
“He’s done an outstanding job,” Hill said. “We told him that we felt like he could be an elite-level player in the defensive line in this conference this season. And I think that he’s played that way.”
In our Moving the Chains Q&A, Bowdry talks about his decision to transfer, his favorite places in his hometown and his thoughts on Thanksgiving.
You began your collegiate career at UT Martin. How did you wind up there?
I wasn’t heavily recruited out of high school. The (UTM) coaches liked the way I played. They thought I had a high motor. That was one of the only schools that was looking at me, so I just went to UT Martin.
Why did you decide to transfer?
I was missing my family. I’m from St. Louis; I’m a city guy. Going to UTM got me out of my comfort zone. I wanted to get closer to home.
What is your best attribute as a defensive tackle?
It probably sounds cliche, but playing in the (opposing) backfield. Being fast with a high motor. I’m a little undersized (for my position), but that’s never stopped me. I try to be faster than my opponent and play with an edge.
What have you improved on the most since getting to SIU?
My strength. I didn’t really lift a lot of weights in high school. I didn’t lift a lot of weights at UTM, so when I got here our strength coach, Meade Smith, told me he was going to kick my butt in the weight room.
How far have you come in the weight room?
When I first got here I think I did 225 (pounds) maybe 15 times. Since then, I’ve gotten to 27 reps in about two and a half years.
What would it be like for you if SIU got matched up against UT Martin in the playoffs?
It would be crazy. Not many people get to transfer and then play against the school they used to play for. I still have a lot of love for the coaches and players over there. It would be pretty awesome to go against those guys, especially in the playoffs.
Do you have a favorite spot in St. Louis?
I’d say Ballpark Village. It’s downtown by Busch Stadium. It’s a great environment. Everyone goes there. It’s a lot of fun. Everybody is welcome. Everybody is getting together whether it’s the Cardinals playing or the Blues or any type of sports going on. It’s a great scene for sports, which I love.
If someone was visiting St. Louis for the first time, what would you say is a must-see attraction besides Ballpark Village?
I don’t want to be generic and say The Arch. I’m into painting and performing arts, so there’s a place called The Muny. They put on plays and have other events. That’s something I used to do, go there with friends on weekends. Even now when I go back to visit, I love to go there and sit down and catch a play or listen to music.
Have you ever been in a play as an actor?
I was in one, my freshman year of high school. I had a couple lines, but I wasn’t too good at it (chuckles). Maybe that’s why I took football more seriously.
Are your favorite teams the St. Louis-based ones, or are they from elsewhere?
In football, I’m a Rams fan. It killed me when they left (St. Louis to return to Los Angeles in 2016). I was about 16 when that happened. I was a freshman in high school. A couple guys in my school had dads who played for the Rams, so we knew before it hit the news. I got the inside scoop that they were leaving.
Other than the Rams, I’ve never really had a favorite team. I’ll watch anybody play. Sports are sports to me.
Did you have a favorite Rams player when you were growing up?
(Running back) Steven Jackson. I loved the way he ran the ball so hard. That sold me on how football is supposed to be played. I always remember No. 39 Steven Jackson running downhill.
Do you have a favorite SIU sport that you follow outside of football?
I’m a big fan of the soccer team and the basketball team. Soccer just ended a few weeks ago. I watched a couple of their games. Basketball just got started. I went to their first game. Those are the two teams that I pay the most attention to.
We’re closing in on Thanksgiving. What is your favorite part of the meal?
Honestly, I would say dessert. The meal is always good since you’ve got a whole bunch of stuff to choose from, but I feel like most families sell out for that dessert. Pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie. I don’t really do sweets, but on Thanksgiving my sweet tooth definitely comes out.
Who would you say is an unsung hero of SIU football outside of the players or coaches?
(Video coordinator) Chris Gillespie. He does whatever the team needs done. He shows us a great example. No matter what happens, he’s ready. Whatever he’s asked to do, he does it with no remorse. He’s selfless.
What are your future goals beyond football?
Since I was 12, I’ve always wanted to be an FBI agent or work in the Justice Department field. I went to school for criminology and got a minor in sociology. Maybe it was growing up in St. Louis where there’s crime and challenges. I’m trying to be someone who can change that.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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