GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Having moved eight times between two countries and four states before his senior year of high school, Josh McGowen had a difficult time landing on college scouts’ radar.
He went to camps whenever he could, sent video to anyone who would watch, tried to be active on Twitter and always kept his grades in order.
After many periods of feeling like a breakthrough would never come, McGowen found his opening with Stephen F. Austin University. The McAllen High standout officially signed his letter of intent on Wednesday.
“I used to wake up every morning and talk to my dad about how I’m going to go to college, and I’m going to make everybody proud,” McGowen said. “It’s finally happening.”
A child of a military family, Josh spent his freshman year in Germany, his sophomore and junior years in North Carolina and finally his senior year at McHi.
His parents always believed he had Division I potential because of his natural athleticism. His mother, Emma, saw his blazing speed on the track and watched him succeed even when he dabbled in baseball and golf. Still, his upbringing came with its share of challenges.
“It’s not been an easy thing for him as a military kid because of all the changes you go through,” Emma said. “It’s been a tough road, but it just makes him stronger.”
With every move, Josh became the outsider again. But Emma calls him a social butterfly because of how easily he makes new friends. On Wednesday he shared his signing day stage with teammate Cody Rodriguez, who signed a letter of intent to play with Texas A&M-Kingsville.
“I feel like I’ve known Josh since he was little,” McAllen High coach Kevin Brewer said. “It’s just as special for him as it is for somebody who has been here all four years.”
In just one season at McHi, Josh set school records with 1,891 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 26 total touchdowns and 340 yards in a single game.
Because Josh’s straight ahead speed and athleticism are his best assets, Brewer believes he can thrive on offense, defense or special teams for Stephen F. Austin.
“The sky is the limit,” Brewer said. “I think this kid can just excel at all of it, I really do. I just know with talent like his, they can do something with him.”
Although SFA was Josh’s only Division I offer, he said the decision to sign was still a tough one for him. An elite athlete on the track, as well, Josh had the option of holding off on signing to see if any track offers came his way. But in the end, football was his primary passion, and he fell in love with all aspects of Stephen F. Austin.
He plans to study kinesiology in hopes of someday being an athletic trainer, and he said he’ll likely wait at least a year or two before thinking about getting involved with the track program.
“I told myself I couldn’t have gone anywhere else better than this school,” Josh said. “No other school can compare to this school. There’s always one thing that SFA is going to have, and that’s family to me. I went there and I felt like I didn’t go anywhere. It felt like I didn’t travel. … It’s just a feeling of being home is what really drew me in.”
Rodriguez chose between seven or eight offers to sign with Kingsville and play one of the middle linebacker positions in an unorthodox 5-2 defense.
He’ll also be studying kinesiology to someday become a physical therapist.
“This means a lot. It’s always been a dream of mine,” Rodriguez said. “This is a dream becoming a reality.”
BY GREG LUCA
STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Having moved eight times between two countries and four states before his senior year of high school, Josh McGowen had a difficult time landing on college scouts’ radar.
He went to camps whenever he could, sent video to anyone who would watch, tried to be active on Twitter and always kept his grades in order.
After many periods of feeling like a breakthrough would never come, McGowen found his opening with Stephen F. Austin University. The McAllen High standout officially signed his letter of intent on Wednesday.
“I used to wake up every morning and talk to my dad about how I’m going to go to college, and I’m going to make everybody proud,” McGowen said. “It’s finally happening.”
A child of a military family, Josh spent his freshman year in Germany, his sophomore and junior years in North Carolina and finally his senior year at McHi.
His parents always believed he had Division I potential because of his natural athleticism. His mother, Emma, saw his blazing speed on the track and watched him succeed even when he dabbled in baseball and golf. Still, his upbringing came with its share of challenges.
“It’s not been an easy thing for him as a military kid because of all the changes you go through,” Emma said. “It’s been a tough road, but it just makes him stronger.”
With every move, Josh became the outsider again. But Emma calls him a social butterfly because of how easily he makes new friends. On Wednesday he shared his signing day stage with teammate Cody Rodriguez, who signed a letter of intent to play with Texas A&M-Kingsville.
“I feel like I’ve known Josh since he was little,” McAllen High coach Kevin Brewer said. “It’s just as special for him as it is for somebody who has been here all four years.”
In just one season at McHi, Josh set school records with 1,891 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 26 total touchdowns and 340 yards in a single game.
Because Josh’s straight ahead speed and athleticism are his best assets, Brewer believes he can thrive on offense, defense or special teams for Stephen F. Austin.
“The sky is the limit,” Brewer said. “I think this kid can just excel at all of it, I really do. I just know with talent like his, they can do something with him.”
Although SFA was Josh’s only Division I offer, he said the decision to sign was still a tough one for him. An elite athlete on the track, as well, Josh had the option of holding off on signing to see if any track offers came his way. But in the end, football was his primary passion, and he fell in love with all aspects of Stephen F. Austin.
He plans to study kinesiology in hopes of someday being an athletic trainer, and he said he’ll likely wait at least a year or two before thinking about getting involved with the track program.
“I told myself I couldn’t have gone anywhere else better than this school,” Josh said. “No other school can compare to this school. There’s always one thing that SFA is going to have, and that’s family to me. I went there and I felt like I didn’t go anywhere. It felt like I didn’t travel. … It’s just a feeling of being home is what really drew me in.”
Rodriguez chose between seven or eight offers to sign with Kingsville and play one of the middle linebacker positions in an unorthodox 5-2 defense.
He’ll also be studying kinesiology to someday become a physical therapist.
“This means a lot. It’s always been a dream of mine,” Rodriguez said. “This is a dream becoming a reality.”
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