All Navorro Bowman wanted to do was send the senior class out with a bang.

With his future in Happy Valley undecided, his 73-yard interception return wouldn't be a bad send-off for himself, either.

Bowman's second defensive touchdown of the year gave Penn State its first lead of the game and left fans -- and Bowman -- wondering if the junior linebacker played his last game at Beaver Stadium, too. If he chooses, Bowman can declare for the NFL draft at the end of the season.

"I haven't made the choice yet, but it's on my mind and it's a choice I have to make soon."

Bowman will sit down after the season with family, coaches and close friends who have his best interests in mind and factor in what's best for him and his family.

He said he has to be projected as a first-round pick by the NFL Advisory Board for him to declare for the draft early.

"I wanna be the best," Bowman said. "To be the best, you have to win and do those things. Being first round is what I want to do and why I've been waking up at 5 or 6 o'clock in the morning just to be the best and get drafted as the best."

Dan Shonka of Ourlads.com said Bowman is one of the top linebackers in the country, but his draft position is based on how many skill-position underclassmen, such as Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant, declare early.

"He's got first-round talent," Shonka said. "Is he gonna be picked in the first round? I wouldn't say that right now."

The deadline for draft-eligible underclassmen to declare is about the second week in January, Shonka said.

But in the two months before Bowman must choose whether to return to Penn State for his final year or go pro, he's also focused on closing out a 10-2 regular season for the Nittany Lions and leading them to a second straight BCS bowl -- something that will be decided next week at Michigan State.

Making plays like the pick-six Saturday would bolster his draft stock and improve the Lions' chances of winning.

Bowman used his instincts when picking off Indiana quarterback Ben Chappell. Watching running back Trea Burgess turn his back, Bowman read screen and would've settled for simply making the tackle.

He lucked out when the high pass bounced off Burgess' hands and into Bowman, who had to make one move on Chappell to take it to paydirt.

"If you guys saw everything, you saw the crack back that I had on the running back," senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick said. "We were rushing, and the running back turned around right next to me, and I tried jumping up and tipping the pass. I saw Navorro coming up. He was in coverage. He saw the running back turn around, so he ran out and was able to catch it, and I was able to blast the running back and let Navorro free."

Bowman also got free Oct. 10, when he returned a fumble 91 yards against Eastern Illinois.

"God was working with me," he said. "Cut down the yards for me."

Bowman is also blessed he's in a position to make a decision on his football future.

After the game, Bowman was asked by a student to ring the victory bell, usually reserved for captains and seniors.

He said it wasn't symbolic of what his plans for the future are. But given his on-field accolades and off-field responsibilities, Bowman's decision to run out of the Beaver Stadium tunnel one more year won't be easy.

"I've had my time here," he said. "It's been good. It's been bad. If it's my time, I'll sit down and think about the ins and outs. I'm just blessed to be in this position."