[1] He played college football at Texas A&M University-Commerce, which was then known as East Texas State University, where he was an All-American quarterback and one of the best passers in the history of Lion football and the Lone Star Conference.
Bounds was born in Mesquite, Texas moved to Picayune, Mississippi at an early age and was a standout quarterback at Picayune Memorial High School, in the Southwest part of Mississippi.
In his Senior season for the Maroon Tide, Bounds led Picayune to Win the 5A State Championship.
Bounds redshirted the 1987 season, and then was a back-up to All-Conference QB and future professional Mike Trigg.
He played through injuries and also battled classmate Mike Meador for snaps, however this did not prevent him from being first team all conference for a second straight season and notching All-American honors by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.
The Lions qualified for the NCAA playoffs once more, once again defeating Grand Valley State in the first round before bowing out to the Gorillas of Pittsburg State again, a team the Lions had defeated earlier in the season.