Top 2023 S Peyton Bowen Felt Wanted at Notre Dame

2023 Guyer (Texas) safety Peyton Bowen‍ was one of Notre Dame’s first offers at the safety position and returned the favor by making a trip to South Bend this week. 

The Notre Dame staff made Bowen feel at home immediately as the four-star prospect got to spend quality time with safeties coach Chris O’Leary, defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman, Director of Defensive Recruiting Chad Bowden, defensive line coach Mike Elston and head coach Brian Kelly during his visit. 

"It was great," Bowen told ISD. "We got there around 10 a.m. the first day and had a presentation with Coach Elston on Notre Dame. We toured the facility and I toured the campus that day. My experience there was great. I had an amazing time touring the campus, learning about the traditions and the history of Notre Dame." 

On day two of his visit, Bowen also camped at Notre Dame and got to experience O’Leary’s coaching style, but also impressed the Irish staff as he ran a 4.47 40. 

"That's my guy,” Bowen said of O’Leary. “We chopped it up. He's a high-energy guy, of course. He's just really cool." 

The message from Freeman was simple and powerful, which made the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder feel not only wanted, but also needed. 

"It was mostly about being that last step to helping fill the gap,” explained Bowen. “The past two times Notre Dame made the playoffs, they lost to the National Champion. 

"Coach Freeman was talking about how he needed to fill that gap and that's why Coach Kelly brought him in. He wanted me to help with that. It made me feel like I'd be a big deal in their program and I could make that difference." 

Notre Dame has become a major player in Bowen’s recruitment, but it shouldn’t be a huge surprise as the Texas native has held the Irish at a high standard since he received the offer in March. 

And the bar has been set a little higher now that Bowen’s expectations were exceeded on his first visit to South Bend. 

"I already knew they were a top program and went to the playoffs,” Bowen said. “They've always just been a big dog program. When I got the offer, I knew it was meaningful that one of the top programs in the country wanted me.

“I always had them at a high standard. Going up there and meeting the coaches was an amazing time. All the coaches were chill and they showed me their plan. It felt like they had known me for a long time." 

Bowen will now turn his attention to a few more visits this month as he’ll be at Texas this weekend and then he’ll make stops at Colorado, TCU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and South Carolina. 

The Guyer star isn't in a rush to make a decision, but he does know when he’d like to make a commitment. 

"I'd say somewhere after my football season or the beginning of next summer,” said Bowen. “That's probably when I'll commit." 

Offers: Arkansas, Baylor, Boston College, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, North Texas, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, SMU, South Carolina, TCU, Texas, Tulsa and USC