2023 LB commit Drayk Bowen brings home the Butkus Award
Drayk Bowen added yet another accolade to his already illustrious career with his most prestigious award.
On Tuesday, Bowen received the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top linebacker at the professional, collegiate and high school levels. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Bowen is the fourth Notre Dame pledge to claim the award since they began honoring preps players in 2008.
Manti Te’o (2008), Jaylon Smith (2012) and Prince Kollie (2020) previously earned the honor before arriving in South Bend. Smith and Te’o are the only two players to win the award at the high school and collegiate level.
Bowen took the trophy after a remarkable senior campaign at Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean High. In 14 games, the four-star thumper registered 144 total tackles (90 solo), 19 tackles for loss, five sacks, five pass breakups, four caused fumbles, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
He beat out finalists Tackett Curtis (USC), Anthony Hill (uncommitted), Ben Kueter (Iowa) and Raylen Wilson (Georgia) for the award.
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“Drayk reminds me of Luke Kuechly,” said Prep Football Report recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. “He’s exceptionally quick to the ball. One thing that really stands out is his quickness and tackles behind the line. He can get there in a hurry, and his football instincts are exceptional.”
Rivals ranks Bowen as the No. 45 overall player, No. 1 outside linebacker and No. 1 player in Indiana for the 2023 class. Bowen is the second player from the state to win the award — Smith played his high school ball at Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.
Before Te’o received the achievement in college in 2012, Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly won the year prior. Like Lemming, Rivals national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove also sees similarities between Bowen and the eventual No. 9 overall NFL draft selection.
“The sky's the limit with Drayk,” Cosgrove said. “A lot of it is because of his physical gifts and the type of kid he is. He’s a physical specimen and works incredibly hard. He is a big, explosive kid. His short-range explosiveness is incredible.
“He's a nice kid with a cool, calm demeanor, but you put him on a football field, and he's downright nasty. He's extremely explosive, and he has great lateral movement. He has a chance to be very special. He reminds me of Luke Kuechly. He's just one of those kids you can bet on being successful.”
In addition to his verbal to play football for the Irish, Bowen is a Notre Dame baseball commit. And his athleticism shines on the diamond, as he can play shortstop, third base, middle infield and outfield.
In January, Bowen will be a mid-year enrollee at Notre Dame, joining the Irish football program. He ended his high school career with 379 total tackles (232 solo), 54 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 10 caused fumbles, six fumble receivers, six interceptions, six pass breakups, four blocked punts and three blocked field goals.
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