Hofstra University defensive end Stephen Bowen (Wheatley Heights, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) has agreed to terms on a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys. The official signing of the contract will happen on Thursday in Dallas. Bowen is the third Pride football player from the 2005 team that has signed an NFL contract following draft selections offensive tackle Willie Colon (4th round-Pittsburgh Steelers) and wide receiver Marques Colston (7th round-New Orleans Saints).

Bowen concluded his college career with an All-Atlantic 10 second team selection in 2005, his first postseason conference accolade. He posted 48 tackles and was second on the team with 5 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for losses. He also recorded his first career interception this season and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown at Furman. Bowen ranked eighth in the Atlantic 10 in both sacks and tackles for losses. During his career, he posted 168 tackles and 11 1/2 sacks.

Bowen started all 11 games at right end as a junior in 2004. He ranked fourth on the team and 36th in the Atlantic 10 with 68 tackles, including 35 solo stops. He also posted 7 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks. Bowen notched a career-best nine tackles including eight solos at New Hampshire and added eight stops against James Madison (6-2) and Northeastern (3-5). He had seven tackles against Delaware (1-6). Bowen recorded seven tackles and two sacks against Richmond and posted two sacks and four tackles for losses at Stony Brook.

Bowen also played in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2003 recording 49 tackles on the season (27 solo, 22 assisted), three sacks and one fumble recovery. He also had 9 1/2 tackles for loss. Bowen notched seven solo tackles and one assisted stop at Rhode Island and six total tackles against both Liberty and Delaware. Bowen also played in five games as a freshman and tallied three tackles on the season.

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