Da ' Quan Bowers Da ' Quan Bowers ( born February 23 , 1990 ) is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Clemson University , and earned All - American honors . He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft . High school career . Bowers attended Bamberg - Ehrhardt High School , where he played defensive end and running back for the Bamberg - Ehrhardt Red Raiders high school football team . As a senior in 2007 he led the team to an 11 – 2 record by recording 97 tackles , 33 tackles for loss and 14 sacks on defense , whilst on offense he rushed for 1 , 219 yards and scored 19 touchdowns , he caught 2 touchdown passes , he averaged 40 yards per kickoff return and also blocked 7 kicks . Bowers was ranked the No . 1 overall high school football prospect by " ESPN . com " in 2008 , the first Clemson recruit in history to be ranked as the number - one player in the nation by any recruiting service . " Rivals . com " dubbed Bowers the top defensive end prospect of the high school classes 2005 – 2009 , describing him as " the closest thing to Reggie White and Bruce Smith " . College career . Bowers graduated early from high school and enrolled at Clemson University in January 2008 , where he was a member of the Clemson Tigers football team from 2008 to 2010 . He went through 2008 spring drills and had a game - high seven tackles in the 2008 Spring Game . In 2008 Bowers had 47 tackles , most among Tiger defensive linemen and eighth - most on the team while starting six games . In 2009 , he finished with 58 tackles in spite of an injury that forced him to miss several games . He had 11 tackles in the ACC Championship game against Georgia Tech . In 2010 Bowers was second on the team in tackles ( 74 ) , and led the team in tackles for loss ( 26 ) , sacks ( 15 . 5 ) and quarterback pressures ( 20 ) . His 15 . 5 sacks led the nation and his 26 tackles for loss were tied for most in the nation and were fifth - most in school history . Following the 2010 season , he was a first - team All - ACC selection , and was recognized as a unanimous first - team All - American . He was also honored as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year , and was the recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy . Professional career . 2011 NFL Draft . As early as April 2010 , Bowers was seen as a candidate for the No . 1 overall spot in the 2011 NFL Draft . He remained at the top of most mock draft projections over the course of the season , especially after Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck , who was widely considered to be the No . 1 prospect for the 2011 draft , returned to school . Along with Nick Fairley , Marcell Dareus , and Patrick Peterson , Bowers was still listed among the best prospects available as of January 2011 . Da ' Quan Bowers was selected in the 2nd round ( 51st overall ) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Bowers was selected lower than expected due to medical issues , including offseason knee surgery . He tore his Achilles tendon on the practice field on May 10 , 2012 , during the Bucs off - season program . Bowers was activated from the PUP on October 25 , 2012 . He played his first game of the 2012 season that same night against the Minnesota Vikings . Personal . Bowers was born in Bamberg , South Carolina to parents Dennis and Linda Bowers . His father , died on August 8 , 2010 , in Augusta , Georgia , at the age of 51 . He was a gospel singer with the Legendary Singing Stars . As a child , Bowers looked up to Reggie White . Bowers grew up as a Dallas Cowboys fan and a Los Angeles Lakers fan . On February 17 , 2013 , Bowers was arrested in New York City at La Guardia Airport on weapons charges after voluntarily turning over a loaded . 40 - cal handgun to security at LaGuardia Airport . He was charged with second - degree criminal possession of a weapon . On April 11 , 2013 , the felony charge was dropped and Bowers pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct . He paid a $ 370 fine and his court record was sealed .