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UVa. football’s Luke Bowanko selected by Jacksonville in 2014 NFL Draft

luke bowankoVirginia senior center Luke Bowanko (Clifton, Va.) was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during Saturday’s sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Bowanko was the 205th overall pick.

Bowanko is the third Cavalier drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, joining Morgan Moses (Redskins) who was taken in the third round, 66th overall, and Brent Urban (Ravens) who was taken in the fourth round, 134th overall.

Bowanko is the first UVa center drafted since John St. Clair went to the St. Louis Rams in 2000 (third round).

Bowanko is the first Cavalier drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars since 2009 when Eugene Monroe was taken in the first round. Bowanko is the fourth overall Cavalier to be drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The other former Cavaliers to be drafted by the Jaguars are Alvin Pearman (2005) and Chris Luzar (2002).

Bowanko started the final 37 games of his career, seeing time at right guard, left guard and center. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominee was a 2013 team captain and was a key-blocking component to help Kevin Parks became UVa’s first 1,000-yard rusher in a season since 2004. Bowanko was UVa’s starting right guard during its Chick-fil-A Bowl season of 2011. In 2012 Bowanko was the starting center. For the first four games of 2013 Bowanko was the starting left guard before injuries to the offensive line forced the senior back to center.

Bowanko earned his degree from Virginia in foreign affairs in 2013 and is expected to graduate later this month from UVa with a master’s degree in athletics administration.

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