INDIANAPOLIS — Brock Bowers’ impactful three seasons with Georgia football produced back-to-back national championships, gave him the title of first two-time winner of the Mackey Award and put him in rare company as a Bulldog three-time All-American.

Pretty impressive stuff for an unassuming guy from Northern California who yes is a tight end, but also was a unicorn wearing jersey No. 19 for Georgia.

Better just to call him a playmaker who can leave defenders flailing to bring him down whether after the catch or when he’s handed the ball.

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NFL teams surely covet Bowers, but will they pull the trigger to get him early?

Bowers, speaking Thursday morning at the Indiana Convention Center in front of what seemed like the biggest media gathering yet this week here at the NFL combine, said being a top 10 overall pick isn’t too important.

“I just want to go to a place I’m wanted and believe will be used and hopefully have a good rookie season,” Bowers said.

He said he’d tell teams considering taking him high that he’s versatile.

“I think I can kind of do it all and be a mismatch for defenses,” he said.

Bowers, not known for filling up notebooks with spicy quotes, spent 20 minutes answering questions during his media session.

It followed X-Rays and MRIs on his surgically repaired left ankle that kept him out for a total of four games last season.

“They’re obviously asking about it,” said Bowers, who still had a physical ahead. “It’s 100 percent…Just making sure it’s all good.”

Bowers left the impression he will skip running the 40 and on-field drills Friday in Lucas Oil Stadium, saving that for Georgia’s Pro Day on March 13. He said he said he will see how he feels but it’s not related to the injury.

“Just a personal decision,” he said.

His measurements this week will be noted. He’s listed at 6-foot-4 and said he played last season at 235 or more pounds but wants to get bigger.

Bowers said being at the NFL combine was something he thought about growing up having watched it on TV.

“Just to be here is cool,” he said

Bowers said he’s met with about 15 teams.

That includes the Chargers (5^th pick), Titans (7^th), Broncos (12^th), Colts (15^th) and Bengals (18^th). And the Bears who have both the No. 1 pick where USC quarterback Caleb Williams is widely projected as well as the No. 9 pick.

“It would be pretty awesome to be with another top rookie like that,” Bowers said.

New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh talked to Bowers about the Bulldogs Orange Bowl win over his Michigan team in 2021 and recruiting Bowers.

In the last 10 drafts, no tight ends were taken in the first round three times and only three went in the top 10 overall: Kyle Pitts at No. 4 to the Falcons in 2021, TC Hokenson at No. 8 to the Lions in 2019 and Eric Ebron to the Lions in 2014.

“When you’ve got a chance to take a good player, you can argue about the value of the position all we want, but you take good players when they’re sitting in front of us,” Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said.

He mentioned Vernon Davis who became a Pro Bowl tight end. Baalke was a scout in 2006 with San Francisco when they took Davis with the No. 6 pick in 2006.

“If they end up being great players when you pick them at six you hit,” Baalke said. “The decision was the right decision. If they don’t end up being good players, it wasn’t a good decision. That’s just the world that we live in.”

Bowers’ 26 touchdown catches are second all-time in Georiga history. He finished third in catches (175) and fifth in receiving yards (2,538). He also rushed for 193 yards and five touchdowns.

“I love Brock Bowers, but when you sit down to do a mock draft, it is very hard to find a spot for a tight end,” ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller said. “Those teams in the top 10 have so many needs and they’re going to most likely big positional value—quarterback, left tackle, wide receiver, corner. Those are the top 10 picks this year it feels like.”

Difference-makers at tight end have gone after the first round.

George Kittle went in the fifth round to the 49ers in 2017. The Chiefs took Travis Kelce in the third round in 2013. Sam LaPorta was a second round pick of the Lions in 2023.

Bowers, from Napa, Calif., may be one of the five most talented players in the draft, but it will take a team just looking for the best player available regardless of position like the Falcons last season when they took running back Bijan Robinson at No. 8, Miller said.

“When you watch him, he's super easy to grade,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “He is one of the best 10 players in the draft. Size-wise, speed-wise I think he is going to be very — he's going to favor Kittle. …Similar size and speed. Plays with just tenacity, especially with the ball in his hands. That's where he is at his best. And the run game, when he can get into guys, he can finish them. He's not the tallest or longest guy so there are times he can't do that. Everything he does, separate easy. He can go get it. He can climb the ladder and go and get the ball, and really the run after catch stuff is what makes him special.”

Believe it or not, Bowers' game isn’t completely developed. He said one thing he’s working on is his secondary reaction when blocking.

“Getting engaged with somebody and they spin and be able to reset and reengage,” he said.

Bowers has grown to like the South after three years at Georgia so playing for Tennessee or Atlanta would be welcomed by him.

Those who tried to stop Bowers during his time with the Bulldogs don’t have many doubts about Bowers.

Asked what type of NFL tight end Bowers would be, Kentucky linebacker Trevin Wallace had a quick response.

“A great one,” he said. “Brock is a once-in-a-lifetime type of tight end. That there is really crazy. He’s a great tight end. Playing against him. He’s like 6-4 and 250 or 260 running that fast. Sometimes you see that and you’re like damn, I want to be in the stands watching him play.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Brock Bowers is top TE prospect. Will Georgia football star go top 10?