Dedication?
Check.
Perseverance?
And then some.
Gleefully going from the grind of the gridiron to the monotony of homework from taking a full load of five classes, over five days, to accomplish a goal of graduating from college?
Well…
"It was kind of a drag being back in the school routine," Brock Bowers said with a laugh. "But I wanted to finish what I started."
Talk about a grueling, albeit, intriguing How-I-Spent-My-First-NFL-Offseason essay.
Because a day after the Raiders' season concluded, a campaign in which Bowers set several league and team records, the spring semester began at Georgia. He was back on campus and in class within a week-and-a-half - "I was able to catch up quickly," he said – and zeroed in on his business degree in real estate.
And a day after walking across the stage for graduation at Georgia's Terry College of Business on May 9, Bowers was on a flight to Las Vegas. Two days later, Bowers was on the practice field for Raiders voluntary workouts.
No rest for the weary, or the willing.
Not with Bowers now needing to make up for lost time with a new coaching staff in place.
And yet…
No doubt Pete Carroll wanted Bowers' take on "12 personnel" when they first talked this offseason.
And the new Raiders coach was surely curious about how Bowers, with a single-season franchise-best 112 catches for an NFL record-for-a-rookie-tight end 1,194 yards with five touchdowns last season, became just the fourth rookie tight end in NFL history named first-team All-Pro.
But they bonded over something else entirely.
"We're just two scholars," Carroll told Bowers, "going back to football."
Indeed.
Because while Bowers was back in school at Georgia, Carroll was co-teaching a class at USC called "The Game is Life" when he was hired by the Raiders.
Bring your No. 2 pencil, and your iPad.
"I just went and got it done," Bowers said.
And his grades?
"All A's and B's," he said. "Pretty much the same grades I had before."
Bowers paused.
"Maybe a couple of C's," he said with a belly laugh.
"I just wanted to finish what I started."
It's a theme. One fostered by his mother DeAnna, who Bowers said was his "inspiration" to getting his college degree.
"Ah, he's so sweet. That means a lot," she said of her son crediting her.
"I was the first and only one in my family to get a degree. My dad drilled bowling balls and sold shoes for a living. And that was great, but school was my way out."
DeAnna, a member of Utah State's athletics Hall of Fame as a softball pitcher, recalled having the conversation with her son about the importance of the degree, especially after the pandemic essentially wiped out his senior year at Napa High School in California's wine country.
That's when Bowers left early for Georgia.
"Covid was interesting for Brock," she said. "His senior year, things were being taken away. I told him, 'This is something that can't be taken away. Nobody can take this. Finish. Go get it.'
"So going back this year, it was his senior class since he left early [for the NFL]. I told him, 'Your boys are all still there. Have fun. Go be a college student.'"
No, Bowers didn't go to the dorms. He wasn't eating in the dining commons. He lived with a friend about 10 minutes from campus and made the daily commute and got the requisite double-takes from his classmates.
Just like when he was previously on campus as the Bulldogs' star tight end.
"Yeah, they'd say, 'What's up?' just like before," Bowers said. "That was cool. Then, it was just like, normal."
Nothing about what Bowers accomplished this spring, though, was normal.
Far from it.
Not with Bowers cramming for five finals, along with learning a new offense authored by Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly via countless Zooms.
"He could have just up and left [Georgia]," DeAnna said. "But he didn't. The Raiders gave him amazing support and I appreciate them standing behind Brock. That last month of school, with finals and presentations and learning that new offense, it was killing him."
DeAnna laughed.
"He was like, 'Mom!' I said, 'There's only three weeks to go.'
"He did it."
Yes, the parchment is a nice complement to the two national titles Bowers won at Georgia, the No. 13 overall draft pick status he enjoyed last year and his All-Pro selection as a rookie.
But it's all part of his personal journey. One that began on the football fields of Napa, continued and concluded in the classrooms of Georgia and is ever-evolving with the Raiders.
So, what is more stressful to study for and learn - an NFL playbook or college finals with graduation on the horizon?
Bowers laughed again, then he cleared his throat.
"A playbook, you learn it and you know it, to be successful for your team," he said. "School is for yourself. It's a different kind of pressure. You're competing against yourself."
Any questions?
View the best photos of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers' rookie season in the Silver and Black.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes for a catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes for a catch during the regular season away game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a first down during the regular season away game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a catch during the regular season away game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Carolina Panthers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a 57-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a first down during the regular season home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes for a catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a first down during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a 22-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a 23-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes to make a 33-yard touchdown catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) stiff arms the defender during the regular season away game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) makes a catch during the regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes to make a catch during the regular season away game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season away game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes for a catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) goes for a 12-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs after making a 12-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) celebrates after making a 12-yard touchdown catch during the regular season home game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium.
