Snider's Donte Bowen Picks EMU

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - On his 18th birthday Snider senior Donte Bowen actually gave a present to the Eastern Michigan coaching staff as the star defensive tackle verbally committed to EMU.

Football players can officially sign in early February.

Bowen had five offers from MAC schools and picked EMU over his other two finalists, Ball State and Western Michigan.

Bowen is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle. He helped lead a team that made it to the 5A state semi-finals. The Panthers ended the season with a 9-5 record.

Bowen showed determination despite injury this season. He partially tore the ACL in his right knee during the North Side game in week six of the regular season, but re-habbed to return to face the Redskins in the sectional semi-finals.