2023 LB Drayk Bowen Grateful for Notre Dame Offer

Notre Dame hasn't offered too many 2023 prospects to this point in the year, but the Irish dished out its first linebacker offer last week. 

Brian Polian surprised Andrean (Ind.) two-sport star Drayk Bowen‍ with the good news and it meant a ton to 6-foot-2, 215-pounder. 

"I had called Coach Polian and he talked about my home life, my grades, and then he said they were going to offer me,” Bowen told Irish Sports Daily. 

Bowen wasn’t the only one excited for the Notre Dame offer as his parents were also emotional. 

"I was really excited,” said Bowen. “I was smiling a lot. I called my parents and told them because I wasn't at home. I was just really happy.

"I think my dad started crying on the phone. My mom was at work, so she couldn't call and I texted her. She was really excited. My stepmom was really happy too." 

The Indiana native will also pursue his baseball dreams as Bowen plans to play both sports in college. Notre Dame baseball assistant Rich Wallace has spoken with Bowen frequently over the last year and Irish defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman has given the green light for him to play both sports.

"I really do want to play both in college,” stated Bowen. “I've talked to a few baseball programs, but not a lot yet. I want to play shortstop or third base.” 

Arkansas, Ball State, Cincinnati and Indiana have also offered and Bowen knows he can’t stop working because he has early attention. 

"I need to get better with my hands and pass drops,” Bowen explained. “I would say I'm really good at coming off the edge on a hard blitz and disrupting the backfield." 

The dynamic edge player also has somewhat of an idea of what he wants in a future school.

"I want it to feel like a second home to me, so I'm looking for an atmosphere that feels like home,” said Bowen. “I want to get a good education and play on a team where I can earn playing time too." 

2020 Highlights