Carl Fowler is a ‘natural leader’ and the man for the defense: On nationally ranked William & Mary’s line and the courtroom

Carl Fowler says there’s no comparison between taking on a 300-pound offensive lineman and communicating with a client through three inches of glass at the Newport News City jail, or facing a judge as a public defender in Newport News-General District Court.

“Colby Sorsdal can’t put anyone I know in jail,” Fowler, a defensive lineman at William & Mary, said, referring to the Tribe’s All-Colonial Athletic Association offensive tackle he battles in practice daily. “College football is something I’m not nervous about anymore, but the real-life stakes in a courtroom are so much higher.

“The nervousness that accompanies advocating for someone whose liberty is on the line, in front of a judge in open court, is very different than lining up for a football snap. It definitely feels bigger, and honestly I kind of hope I always keep that perspective.”

Not that Fowler is dismissing the stakes when the No. 5-seeded Tribe (11-1) plays at No. 4 Montana State (11-1) on Friday in the Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinals. The Tribe’s attempt to reach the FCS semifinals for only the third time in program history is easily the biggest game of Fowler’s six-year career.

Fowler is one of only four W&M players, all current teammates, ever to play six seasons — a length possible because of the mulligan NCAA athletes were granted by the COVID year. During that time, he has earned his undergraduate degree and will receive his law degree in May, a rare feat for an NCAA athlete while game-eligible.

He is singular in 129 years of William & Mary football in having captained the team three seasons. That designation is instructive in his success as an All-CAA defensive lineman this season and in his swift journey to the courtroom.

“Carl is a natural leader,” Tribe defensive line coach Keenan Carter said. “The leadership qualities of being the only three-year captain in program history have benefited the entire unit.

“He’s asked questions to learn more, and then ran with it. The student has become a teacher (to the other defensive linemen) because he learned so much of what we do.”

Andrew Gordon saw the same trait in Fowler during the first of his two summers interning with the Newport News Public Defender Office.

“Often when you give a research assignment to an intern, the results are not as helpful because there is a lot of nuance to legal research,” said Gordon, a deputy public defender for Newport News. “I gave Carl a stack of papers to go through that I needed back in a month, and he had them back the next day.

“The research was thorough, complete and identified the issues in the case, so I used it as an outline. It saved me a boatload of time.

“Carl did not get the job because he’s an athlete or well-known. He got it because he’s smart, basically smart enough to go in any direction he wants.”

Fowler has chosen public defense because of a keen desire to represent minorities and the indigent in the legal system. He understands the challenges of working with fewer resources, lower pay included, than the prosecutors he’ll oppose, and the intense skepticism of the clients he represents.

“Sometimes I’ll walk into court having never talked to the client, and all I’ll have is the police report,” said Fowler, a Durham, North Carolina, native. “That’s a tough situation to be in as a defense attorney, but the name of the game in public defense is doing the best you can with limited resources.”

Gordon and others in the NN Public Defense Office have allowed him to do so because of the intelligence, concern and “relentlessness” that have made him such a valuable captain for the Tribe.

“A lot of interns say the right things to get in the door, but you could tell Carl was passionate about fighting racial injustice and social injustice,” said Gordon, a W&M graduate and law school graduate. “He made it clear that he wanted to jump in and start dealing with cases.”

To do so, Fowler procured his Third-Year Practice Certificate, which allows a student to appear in Virginia courts with a judge’s written consent and in the presence of a supervising lawyer. He must also have the written consent and approval of his client, which is not as automatic as you might think.

“One of the biggest jobs of a public defender is gaining the trust of your client, because, on a certain level, public defenders are viewed with distrust,” Fowler said. “We work for the state and so do the prosecutors, the judge and the police officers that arrested them.

“So I do think it’s hard to build that trust when you’re physically distanced from them, sitting on one side of the glass talking on a phone wearing a suit while they are wearing a jumpsuit. The difference between what happens in a conversation is much greater in jail.”

Fowler is apparently a champ at it. He’s also proven to be something of a natural in court — handling misdemeanor cases such as burglary, trespassing and petit larceny — despite a young attorney’s natural “intimidation” in front of a judge.

“He gets the clients’ trust fast because he meets them where they are, without judgment, and says what he means,” Gordon said. “That’s something a lot of seasoned attorneys have trouble with.

“When he tried his first case, the supervising attorney mentioned that it was almost like Carl had done this 100 times before. I absolutely think Carl can and will be a public defender as long as he can.

“Then, because he’s such a leader, I see him moving into policy to affect real change to the criminal justice system.”

Indeed, Fowler admits the high caseloads and challenges of public defense make it unlikely he’ll do it for 40 years, but adds, “I’m going to do it as long as a I can do it well, because I think it’s important.”

His football career will, on the other hand, end soon — he hopes with an FCS national title on Jan. 8 in Frisco, Texas. Fowler played one of hiscareer-best games in November at rival Richmond, batting down three passes at the line of scrimmage in the 37-26 win that gave the Tribe a share of the CAA title.

Moments like that, and Friday’s game at Montana State, are much more relaxed for Fowler than facing a client or judge.

“Those are the kind of games you play football for, the high stakes and winner-take-all,” he said. “Beating Richmond was huge, but we’ve kept it in perspective because we knew we had more football and bigger games ahead.”

Marty O’Brien, 757-247-4963, mjobrien@dailypress.com Twitter: @MartyOBrienDP

FCS quarterfinals

No. 5 William & Mary (11-1) at No. 4 Montana State (11-1), 10:15 p.m.

On the air: ESPN2, 92.3FM The Tide radio.

The Tribe: The Tribe rides an eight-game win streak in the wake of its 54-14 win over Gardner-Webb in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The 11 victories tie a single-season program record. The Tribe has been good in every way this season. It ranks fourth nationally in rushing at 276.7 yards per game — led by Bronson Yoder’s 1,133 yards and 12 TDs — and eighth in total offense with a 469.8 average, while its 35.7 points per contest rank 14th nationally. Led by FCS Defensive Player of the Year candidate OLB John Pius (19 tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hurries), the Tribe’s 19.93 points per game allowed ranks it No. 8 in the nation. The defense also ranks in the top 10 nationally with 24 turnovers.

The Bobcats: Montana State’s 43-38 win over Weber State in the second round is typical of its season. No. 3 in the nation at 44 points per game, the Bobcats score a lot of points and give up a lot — 27. 25 per contest. The Tribe’s impressive rushing numbers look pedestrian beside the Bobcats’ 332.8 per game. But, at 182 yards a game, the Bobcats can throw if needed. QB Tommy Mellott (1,401 yards passing, nine TDs and 1,013 yards rushing, 10 TDs) is Montana State’s guy to watch on offense. It’s going to be cold in Bozeman, with temperatures at kickoff in the low 20s and expected to drop. Will that favor the Bobcats and hurt the Tribe?

— Marty O’Brien