“I started playing football in first grade,” Sells said. “Around third grade was when I started to love it as much as I do and in sixth grade I started playing quarterback which made me love it even more.”

His quarterback career really took off when he played on the Football University (FBU) 8th grade All-Star team Dallas. FBU is an invitation-only, one of a kind experience that aims to help kids sixth through eleventh grade improve in football. FBU is also the program behind the Army All American Bowl.

Team Dallas, Sells’ team, ended up in second place out of teams from all over the country. Although they lost to Florida in the championship game in San Antonio, he got a lot of positive recognition.

“I’m so excited for Bowman being on varsity,” his mother Schell Sells said. “He has a strong work ethic and gives everything he has.

It’s a bit scary for me as a parent with the other players being older but he is handling it with grace and we are so proud of him. The program is so encouraging and upbeat, the coaches and players love what they do and expect leadership and responsibility from each player. They put the person first then football, and we feel so blessed to have this group of coaches and teammates.”

Often time, coaches are hesitant to put freshman on varsity but head coach Matt Green is confident in his decision.

“I knew that Bowman was going to be on the varsity about midway through two-a-day practices. He had shown the coaching staff that he was capable of handling the necessary duties that were associated with being a varsity player at the quarterback position,” Green said. “Bowman throws the ball well and is beginning to make some plays by scrambling when he is under pressure. Bowman understands the offense and does a nice job of keeping the hurry up tempo moving the way it is designed to move.”

Sells contributes to the team in a positive way on and off the field according to his teammates and coaches.

“Athletic wise, I mean have you seen the kid sling the tater?” junior Chochy Luce said. “His athletic ability is incredible, you just have to watch him play. Personality wise, he’s super quiet around the team. The line has to get him to be louder so they can hear the plays but he’s coming out of his shell crack by crack.”

“Bowman is a good teammate. He knows his role on the team and realizes he will play at times, while other times we may have Zach Saffle in the game,” Green said. “He plays well when he is in the game and roots his team on when he is not in the game. Off the field, Bowman is very quiet and reserved. Most of the time he is very serious and our coaching staff normally has to crack jokes about him in order to get him to smile. He is a polite young man and I am glad to know that he represents Lovejoy Football in the manner that he does.”

The privilege of being on varsity means a lot to Sells and he is very thankful for the opportunities he has been given.

“It humbles me being able to play on the varsity level,” Sells said. “I get to be around a bunch of great guys who are also great teammates and they have made my experience that much better. The field is where my competitive nature comes out. Football is where my second family is.”