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Does Auburn Basketball Player Cinmeon Bowers Have a Future in Football?

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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If you watch an Auburn basketball game on television, you’re sure to notice Cinmeon Bowers. The junior forward is in his first season at Auburn after signing as the top junior college prospect in the 2014 recruiting class, and is one of the most active players on the court in every contest.

Jan 10, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Cinmeon Bowers (5) reacts after making a shot and being fouled by the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Auburn Arena. Auburn beat Missouri 85-79. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Bowers has made a big impact for the rebuilding Tigers by averaging 13.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, one steal and one assist for head coach Bruce Pearl’s 10-10 squad.

He also adds an odd combination of fun and excitement with his energy, in addition to horror when he pulls up for a three-pointer.

When watching the team on television, regardless of the channel or the broadcasters providing commentary, you are sure to hear two things about Bowers. First, he’ll be compared to former Auburn great Charles Barkley. Then, you’ll probably something along the lines of: “Boy, I bet Gus Malzahn would love to see Cinmeon Bowers in an Auburn football uniform!”

Most of the time, the Barkley comparisons stem from Bowers’ role as an undersized big man and tenacious rebounder (the SEC’s current leader, in fact), as well as his athletic ability and accompanied desire to run the floor after grabbing a missed shot.

As for the football-related comments, they are often in reference to Bowers’ listed size of 6-foot-7 and 278 pounds. While those numbers may be generous – he’s probably 6-foot-5.5 or 6-foot-6 – yes, Malzahn would probably love to see Cinmeon Bowers in a football uniform.

And Malzahn’s not alone.

In case you didn’t know, Cole Cubelic is a football analyst for a variety of media formats (you may remember him from the Finebaum Film Room Iron Bowl broadcast on the SEC Network) and radio host that also happens to be a former Auburn football player. In other words, he knows a thing or two about football.

Also, Cubelic’s suggestion for Bowers to get his hands ready for the NFL isn’t a joke – at least, I don’t think so. After all, Bowers wouldn’t be the first player to make such a transition.

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The best example is Antonio Gates, who played basketball instead of football at Kent State. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds and blessed with freakish athleticism, Gates impressed the San Diego Chargers enough that he signed as an undrafted free agent in 2003. Twelve seasons, 788 receptions, 10,014 receiving yards and 99 touchdown catches later, Gates is a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Of course, it’s worth noting that football wasn’t foreign to Gates. He intended to play defensive end at Michigan State for Nick Saban as well as basketball for Tom Izzo, but Saban wanted Gates all to himself.  Gates chose to transfer to Eastern Michigan, then spent time at two junior colleges before landing at Kent State, where he earned Honorable Mention All-American honors in 2002 after averaging 20.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

In 2002, Gates helped lead the Golden Flashes to the Elite Eight. He now has his jersey retired.

But Antonio Gates isn’t the only NFL tight end that played a lot of basketball in college. Another future Hall of Famer and the NFL career receptions leader by a tight end, Tony Gonzalez was a two-sport athlete at Cal. Other examples of pro players that didn’t play college football include offensive lineman Wayne Moore, defensive lineman Sam Clancy and tight end Marcus Pollard.

Unfortunately, Gus Malzahn won’t have a chance utilize Cinmeon Bowers as a tight end or H-back – though that is a position of need with the graduations of C.J. Uzomah and Brandon Fulse. Instead, Bowers is likely stick with basketball only at Auburn for one more year in an attempt to help Bruce Pearl rebuild the program. Then, he’ll give pro basketball a shot.

But, if he wants to give football a try, there’s precedent Cinmeon Bowers could succeed. And Malzahn, like the rest of us, would finally get to see Bowers in a football uniform.

Next: Football Recruiting: Updated Signing Day Odds & Projections

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