ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. Highlights Justin Bowick as NFL Draft Prospect

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled Drew Mestemaker NFL Draft talk to discuss another Cowboy who was recently noted by draft analyst: Justin Bowick.

It was only a matter of time before evaluators started to notice the Cowboys’ 6-foot-5, 209-pound pass catcher. In an episode of ESPN’s “First Draft,” Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates discussed some of the “freakish” 2027 NFL Draft prospects who could pop at the combine, with Kiper singling out Bowick.

“This kid is 6-4.5, maybe 6-5 — we’ll see about the official heights and weights — 210 (pounds),” Kiper said. “He can go get the football. He had a big game against Oregon, big game against UCF — had a one-handed catch in this game, which was outstanding. It’s not just Wyatt Young. It’s No. 0 for Oklahoma State, Justin Bowick, who is a talent.”

Kiper compared Bowick’s come-up to that of a baseball player traversing the minor leagues.

After transferring high schools and suffering an injury, Bowick didn’t have a ton of high school film. He did enough to earn a scholarship at Eastern Illinois, which Kiper referred to as A-ball. Then his transfer to Ball State was a move to Double-A, while his time at Illinois and Oklahoma State is Triple-A.

In his first five games as a Cowboy, Bowick has caught 26 passes for 442 yards and five touchdowns from Drew Mestemaker. The most receiving yards he’s had in a college season was the 499 he racked up as a sophomore at Eastern Illinois in 2023, so he’s already threatening a career-high and it’s only mid-October.

Bowick is coming off a six-catch, 98-yard performance against UCF this past weekend, where he had at least three highlight-worthy plays — his one-handed snag, his touchdown catch and a 32-yard catch and run where Bowick made some Knights miss in a phonebooth.

How did Justin Bowick catch this?🤯

📺 ESPN2 x @Big12Conference https://t.co/rRPrQR676q

— CFP (@CFBPlayoff) October 10, 2026

“I look at this kid to go from Eastern Illinois, he had some great games there,” Kiper said. “You say, well he dominated against UT-Martin. Well, still, if you play at Eastern Illinois, you better take over games. He did. He did it at Ball State. He did it at Illinois — go back to the Duke game. He’s done it at Oklahoma State — Oregon game, UCF game, other games.

“He’s a heck of a player, and to see his progression. You need a scorecard there just to keep up with the schools that he’s gone to and the progression that he’s made. Justin Bowick is a kid to keep an eye on, and Drew Mestemaker is bringing a lot of eyes down to Stillwater. He’s bringing a lot of NFL eyes down there.”

Bowick’s freakiness was documented going into the season when The Athletic named him to its annual “Freak List.” He was the No. 66 freak given his ability to squat more than 500 pounds, run 22 miles an hour and have a 1.36 10-yard split.

Bowick’s coaches and teammates tried warning people in the preseason, as well. And now, more are becoming aware.

“This kid has made me stand up and take notice because on talent, boy, he is a kid,” Kiper said. “He is chiseled, and he is big, and he catches the football when it’s thrown his way.”