Notre Dame LB Drayk Bowen Ready to Roll in 2024
It seems like Drayk Bowen has been around Notre Dame for five years, but the 6-foot-2, 239-pounder is heading into his sophomore season after appearing in 12 games as a freshman.
Bowen missed only game two, as he was recovering from a concussion he suffered in the season-opener against Navy.
2023 was a productive year for the in-state product as he was able to soak knowledge from Notre Dame captain JD Bertrand. Bowen was able to see how Bertrand led, but also how he conducted his day-to-day routines.
“He’s a great leader,” stated Bowen. “A very vocal leader. When you looked at him you just kind of respected him. You knew he was the captain. I think that part of him was something that I really looked up to and I asked a lot of questions to him about the playbook, about how to watch film, how to lead. Different stuff like that.
“I think being around JD last year and him knowing so much ball and now Jack (Kiser) this year is really helping me learn the game better, especially at the college level. JD was here for five, Kiser’s here for six. They were in three different playbooks. I think being around both those types of guys, and Marist (Liufau) too, it really helped me learn the game of football faster than a lot of people would probably do their freshman year.”
Bowen played 74 snaps on defense last fall, which isn’t a ton, but a solid base entering a year where he could start at Mike or Will linebacker. Now, Bowen did get his fair share of reps in practice last year and that likely has prepared him for a significant role this year, but the mental reps watching Bertrand and company also put him ahead of the curve.
“It was a lot of learning last year, especially in the spring,” explained Bowen. “I was with JD a lot, with Jack a lot, just asking a lot of questions. They’re older guys, so they were in the playbook. That was their second year, so, they kind of knew it. They had it down.
“They helped me a lot and I credit them with a lot of what they did, especially with checks and stuff like that. There’s so many different minuscule details of the defense that you need to know. I think that with them and then just studying it a lot on my own, that’s kind of how I got here.”
Notre Dame linebackers coach Max Bullough gave Bowen a stamp of approval for his effort in the spring, but also challenged him to raise his voice. Bowen is more reserved personality, so becoming a vocal leader will be key to him taking the next step and commanding the defense.
“He said ‘You know the playbook, you know what you’re supposed to do, where you’re supposed to be’. Stuff like that but now he said I’ve got to be more vocal, be more of a leader on the field.
“Learn different games. Learn where I’m supposed to be in the run game, how to play off different people. Stuff like that. But I’ve felt like throughout camp I’ve gotten better and better at being more of a vocal leader out on the field. Talking with other people. Kind of getting everybody lined up. I've still got a ways to go but that’s something that I feel like I’ve done better and where I’ve improved.”
The Irish linebacker room will be young outside of Kiser this year, but Bullough has made it crystal clear they plan on going with a five-man rotation.
Bowen and the other backers appear to be on board as the competition as pushed each other to maximize every snap in practice.
“We’re very much ahead of what we could be,” Bowen said. “We’re a younger team so we may think we’re behind but we’re definitely ahead of where we should be in some people’s eyes. So, just having the older dudes like that. Jaylen’s (Sneed) been here for three years now, Jack’s been here for six. Just being around those two dudes that have been here for a while.
“Me and Jaiden (Ausberry) and KVA (Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa) and Preston (Zinter), like all dudes that know football. So, just being around all those dudes has definitely helped everyone grow and get better faster. Also, we’re all learning the playbook well. Some of us are learning the playbook together. Learning different checks and stuff like that.”
All that’s left is to prove it on the field. And Bowen, who has family in Texas, will be more than ready to get 2024 rolling on August 31st.
“I feel like I’m at that point now where I’ve learned everything,” said Bowen. “I kind of know where everything is supposed to be, so now I’ve just got to go.”
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