David Bowens - #96 - LB - Western Illinois - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

■ Has played in 121 games, making 17 starts, with 177 tackles (96 solo), 28.5 sacks, 23 PD, four FF and two FR.

■ Appeared in one postseason game, in 2001 for MIA.

■ Established career high with 15 ST tackles in first season with Jets.

■ Became first Jet to block a punt, recover the block and return it for TD since Chris Burkett in 1991.

■ Contributed on wedge in helping Leon Washington establish Jets franchise record with three KO-return TDs.

■ Played for four organizations in a little more than two months (GB, BUF, WAS, MIA) from August-October 2001 before spending six-plus seasons with Dolphins.

■ Registered 20.5 of his 28.5 career sacks in past four seasons.

SEASON BY SEASON

2007 (JETS) Sacked Brodie Croyle for 6-yard loss in Game 16 vs. KC. ... Sacked Vince Young for 5-yard loss in Game 15 at TEN. ... Made first start as a Jet at DE, blocked Chris Hanson punt and returned it for first career TD, all in Game 14 at NE. ... Recorded career-high three passes defensed in Game 12 at MIA. ... Split third-down sack of Ben Roethlisberger with Shaun Ellis for his first sack as a Jet and tackled RB Willie Parker for 3-yard loss in Game 10 vs. PIT. ... Assisted on two tackles in first Jets action in Game 1 vs. NE.

2006 (MIA) Tallied sack for third consecutive game in Week 13 vs. JAX, giving him four sacks in seven games. ... Recovered first fumble of career in Week 7 vs. GB.

2005 (MIA) Recorded sacks in three consecutive games, ending with Week 16 vs. TEN. ... Had season-high four tackles and career-best two sacks in Week 12 at OAK, including strip sack of Kerry Collins.

2004 (MIA) Recorded five tackles in Week 17 at BAL and stripped ball from RB Jamal Lewis, resulting in safety as Kyle Boller recovered fumble in end zone. … Posted season-high six tackles and recorded one FF and two PD in Week 12 at SF. ... Made first NFL start in Week 1 vs. TEN.

2003 (MIA) Recorded sack in Week 17 vs. Jets. ... Began season on Reserve/Non-Football Injury list after suffering off-season injury.

2002 (MIA) Posted season-high four tackles in Week 5 vs. NE, including only sack of the year when he dropped Tom Brady for 10-yard loss.

2001 (MIA/WAS) Tallied six tackles and one sack in Week 15 at NE. … In Week 11 at BUF, knocked ball loose from Nate Clements on KR with 1:05 left in game, which helped set up game-winning TD for MIA. … Played one game for WAS.

2000 (GB) Notched four tackles and one sack in Week 10 vs. MIN. … Collected season-high five tackles and one sack in Week 3 vs. PHI.

1999 (DEN) Recorded first NFL sack when he tackled Drew Bledsoe in Week 7 at NE.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

■ Signed with Jets as UFA 3/29/07.

■ Signed by MIA as FA 10/22/01.

■ Released by WAS 9/26/01.

■ Claimed by WAS 9/3/01.

■ Waived by BUF 9/2/01.

■ Acquired by BUF via trade from GB 8/7/01 in exchange for TE Bobby Collins.

■ Acquired by GB via trade from DEN 2/24/00 in exchange for 2001 seventh-round pick.

■ Selected by DEN in fifth round (158th overall) of 1999 NFL Draft.

BEFORE THE NFL

■ Began his collegiate career at Michigan, where he played for two seasons before transferring to Western Illinois in 1998.

■ Was Division I-AA All-American in lone season at Western Illinois, recording 134 tackles, 37 TFL, four FF and two FR.

■ In sophomore season at Michigan (1996), set school single-season record with 12 sacks.

■ Played one year of basketball for UM.

■ Played TE and HB at St. Mary’s HS in Michigan and lettered three times each in basketball and track.

■ Was all-state pick in basketball and state champion in long jump (23'0") as sophomore.

OFF THE FIELD

■ Majored in accounting.

■ Avid bowler who carries 221 average and has high game of 275.

■ Son of Frank Williams, who competed on Pro Bowlers Tour in Eighties.

■ Winner of Dolphins’ Ed Block Courage Award and PFWA “Good Guy” award in 2004.

■ Created “The David Bowens Foundation” in 2005 to help kids who suffer from asthma and cystic fibrosis.

■ Helped raise more than $20,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

■ Born in Denver.