THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

William Bowens, a native of Killen, Ala.,  was a four-year letterman in football for the Lions from 1976-79 as a linebacker and defensive end. 

Although a knee injury hampered him for part of two seasons, he was selected second-team All-Gulf South Conference in 1979 as a senior. He was then drafted in the fifth round of the 1979 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders. 

Bowens was a part of the Raiders 1980 Super Bowl championship team and later spent the 1982 season with the Baltimore Colts.

He was a member of the 50th Anniversary UNA Football Team, chosen in 1998, in addition to being selected for the First Forty Years UNA Football Team (1949-88) and the UNA Team of the Decade for 1979-88.

He has also been inducted into the Lauderdale County Sports Hall of Fame.