Drayk Bowen Named One Of The Nation's Top Returning Linebackers

Notre Dame has built a reputation for producing very talented linebackers over the last 15 years, producing three Butkus Award winners and seven draft picks during that span. Jack Kiser will likely add to that draft number later this month, which means the Irish will have to replace a key leader and playmaker. The good news for Notre Dame is that it also returns one of the nation's best linebacker rooms, and it will be led by rising junior Drayk Bowen.

Bowen emerged as the middle linebacker for the Irish in 2024 after spending his rookie season primarily on special teams. Bowen kept improving throughout the season as well, and by season's end he was not only one of the leaders of the defense, he was also one of the best all-around players. 

The former Indiana Mr. Football winner heads into the 2025 season with far greater expectations, and far more recognition. Pro Football Focus ranks Bowen as one of the nation's 10 best returning linebackers for the 2025 season.

"Bowen is an even better tackler than CJ Allen, missing just 6.3% of his career attempts — the seventh-best rate among 297 linebackers since 2023. No returning FBS linebacker was more valuable than him last year, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. The rising junior is a very physical player who will need to assume more of a leadership role in 2025 following Jack Kiser’s departure." - Max Chadwick, PFF

Bowen finished the 2024 season with 78 tackles. He also added four tackles for loss, a sack, two pass break ups and three forced fumbles. Bowen registered a career-high nine tackles in Notre Dame's 31-7 win over Georgia Tech, and he set a career best with seven solo tackles in the national title game loss to Ohio State. He also had a key forced fumble that helped the Irish mount a second half comeback. Bowen had a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss in the 27-17 playoff win over Indiana.

There were three Notre Dame opponents on the list as well. Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York ranked No. 2 on the list. Pittsburgh also had a pair of linebackers on the list, with Kyle Louis ranking No. 5 and Rasheem Biles ranking No. 10. 

Georgia linebacker CJ Allen ranked No. 8 on the list. In the matchup between the Irish and Bulldogs, Bowen had six tackles and a half a tackle for loss, while Allen had just four tackles.