# Mark Bowman
**Mark Bowman** is the name of two American sports figures: a baseball journalist who has covered the Atlanta Braves for MLB.com since 2001, and a college football tight end who played high school football at Mater Dei in [Santa Ana, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-ana-california), before enrolling at the [University of Southern California](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-southern-california) (USC) as a member of the recruiting class of 2026.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bowman (journalist) | Braves beat reporter for MLB.com since 2001; author of *The Franchise: A Curated History of the Braves* (2024)[1](https://intelligentrelations.com/journalist/mark-bowman/) • [2](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-bowman-the-franchise-a-curated-history-of-the-braves) |
| Bowman (journalist) | Grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia; writes the Braves Beat newsletter[3](https://www.markbowman.net/about) |
| Bowman (player) | Tight end, Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, CA), 6 ft 4 in, 230 lb, class of 2026[4](https://www.on3.com/rivals/mark-bowman-238497/recruiting/) |
| Bowman (player) | Committed to USC in May 2025 and enrolled on May 30, 2025, choosing the Trojans over Georgia, Oregon, Texas, and Ole Miss[5](https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/usc-trojans-land-commitment-from-nation-no-1-te-mark-bowman/) |
| Bowman (player) | Rated a five-star by 247Sports (No. 13 in its composite); dropped to four-star at No. 21 in the July 2025 On3/Rivals update[6](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usc-legend-rips-recruiting-following-192101693.html) |
| Bowman (player) | As a USC freshman in 2026: 21 receptions, 204 yards, and 2 touchdowns[7](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-hq/players/mark-bowman) |
## Mark Bowman (journalist)
**Career.** Mark Bowman is a beat reporter for MLB.com who has covered the [Atlanta Braves](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-braves) since 2001, focusing on [Major League Baseball](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-baseball) and the Braves organization.[1](https://intelligentrelations.com/journalist/mark-bowman/) His reporting appears under his own byline and in the Braves Beat newsletter, and he answers reader questions in the long-running "Inbox" format on MLB.com.[8](https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-inbox-is-atlanta-still-a-threat/c-67400666) He grew up in [Wheeling, West Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/wheeling-west-virginia), and has spent more than two decades with MLB.com, describing his work as preparing for his 25th season on the Braves beat.[3](https://www.markbowman.net/about)
**Book.** In June 2024 Bowman published *The Franchise: A Curated History of the Braves*, which he wrote over roughly five months and described as a product of the 24 seasons he had spent covering the team.[2](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-bowman-the-franchise-a-curated-history-of-the-braves) The book draws on his interviews with figures including [Bobby Cox](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-cox), Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones, Greg Maddux, and Terry McGuirk, and covers the 1914 and 1957 [World Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/world-series) teams along with the Atlanta years, including [Babe Ruth](https://www.edgepedia.org/babe-ruth)'s final season with the Braves.[2](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-bowman-the-franchise-a-curated-history-of-the-braves) • [3](https://www.markbowman.net/about) The book is an unofficial publication, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Atlanta Braves or Major League Baseball.[3](https://www.markbowman.net/about)
**Recognition and voting.** Bowman has conducted public question-and-answer sessions with fans, including a Reddit AMA hosted through MLB.com in June 2025, in which he discussed the Braves' managerial situation and called the 2010 Braves the best group he had covered.[9](https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-reddit-ama-with-reporter-mark-bowman) As an MLB.com writer he became a Baseball Writers' Association of America voter; on the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot he cast four votes, for [Bobby Abreu](https://www.edgepedia.org/bobby-abreu), Carlos Beltrán, Andruw Jones, and [Chase Utley](https://www.edgepedia.org/chase-utley).[10](https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/how-mlb-com-reporters-voted-for-2026-hall-of-fame)
## Mark Bowman (football player)
**Recruitment.** Mark Bowman is a tight end from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, listed at 6 ft 4 in and 230 pounds in the class of 2026.[4](https://www.on3.com/rivals/mark-bowman-238497/recruiting/) He reclassified into the 2026 class and committed to USC in May 2025, enrolling on May 30, 2025, after also considering Oregon, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and Miami; reporting at the time of his commitment ranked him as the On3 Industry's No. 1 tight end and the nation's No. 15 prospect overall.[5](https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/usc-trojans-land-commitment-from-nation-no-1-te-mark-bowman/) On3's director of scouting Charles Power described him as the best route-running tight end prospect he had evaluated, with elite change of direction and the ability to play in-line or flexed out.[5](https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/usc-trojans-land-commitment-from-nation-no-1-te-mark-bowman/)
**Rankings dispute.** In July 2025 the On3/Rivals updated rankings dropped Bowman from five-star to four-star, moving him to No. 21 nationally, while 247Sports continued to list him as a five-star and the nation's No. 13 talent in its composite rankings.[6](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usc-legend-rips-recruiting-following-192101693.html) The change drew a public objection from former USC safety [Su'a Cravens](https://www.edgepedia.org/sua-cravens), who accused recruiting sites of bias against players who commit to USC.[6](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usc-legend-rips-recruiting-following-192101693.html)
**College career.** Bowman signed a name, image, and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike while a high school senior, and arrived at USC with one of the highest-profile freshman profiles in the 2026 class.[11](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/stood-freshman-mark-bowmans-usc-180218983.html) He made his USC debut on August 29, 2026, against San José State, recording 3 receptions for 15 yards in a 42-26 win.[11](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/stood-freshman-mark-bowmans-usc-180218983.html) Through the early part of the 2026 season he totaled 21 receptions for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns, including an 83-yard, 2-touchdown game against Louisiana on September 13, 2026.[7](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-hq/players/mark-bowman) Scouts have compared him to [Brock Bowers](https://www.edgepedia.org/brock-bowers) for his route running, contested catching, and blocking.[12](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usa-football-team-spotlight-mater-234508475.html)
## References
1. [Mark Bowman, Journalist Profile, Intelligent Relations](https://intelligentrelations.com/journalist/mark-bowman/)
2. [Mark Bowman's book The Franchise tells Braves best stories, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-bowman-the-franchise-a-curated-history-of-the-braves)
3. [About, Mark Bowman, The Franchise](https://www.markbowman.net/about)
4. [Mark Bowman, Mater Dei, Tight End, On3/Rivals recruiting profile](https://www.on3.com/rivals/mark-bowman-238497/recruiting/)
5. [USC Trojans land commitment from nation's No. 1 TE Mark Bowman, On3](https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/usc-trojans-land-commitment-from-nation-no-1-te-mark-bowman/)
6. [USC Legend Rips Recruiting Site Following Updated Rankings, Athlon Sports via Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usc-legend-rips-recruiting-following-192101693.html)
7. [Mark Bowman, College Football Player Profile, Pro Football Network](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb-hq/players/mark-bowman)
8. [Inbox: Are the Braves still a threat?, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-inbox-is-atlanta-still-a-threat/c-67400666)
9. [Braves Reddit AMA with reporter Mark Bowman, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/braves-reddit-ama-with-reporter-mark-bowman)
10. [How MLB.com reporters voted on the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/pirates/news/how-mlb-com-reporters-voted-for-2026-hall-of-fame)
11. [What Stood Out in Freshman Mark Bowman's USC Trojans Debut, USC On SI via Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/stood-freshman-mark-bowmans-usc-180218983.html)
12. [ALL-USA Football Team Spotlight: Mater Dei's Mark Bowman, USA TODAY High School Sports Wire via Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/article/usa-football-team-spotlight-mater-234508475.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › College, minor, and international American football › High school and recruiting*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license