Senior captain and linebacker Drayk Bowen has been one of US LBM Coaches Poll No. 6 Notre Dame’s unquestioned leaders this season.
It’s a reason why on Wednesday, Bowen was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. It’s an award that celebrates the nation’s top linebacker.
Bowen – an Indiana Mr. Football recipient – is already a recipient of the high school version of the Butkus Award, an honor bestowed upon him in 2022 when he played for Andrean High School (IN).
If Bowen wins the college version of the award, he'd be the fourth Irish player in history to receive it. Manti Te’o (2012), Jaylon Smith (2015) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020) are each Butkus Award recipients.
Bowen has 38-tackles, two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and a fumble
recovery so far for Notre Dame. After he recovered the fumble, the senior ran it back 15-yards for his first-career touchdown.
The nation’s top linebacker 😤
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) October 28, 2026
Drayk Bowen is a Butkus Award Semifinalist!#GoIrish☘️ | @DraykBowen pic.twitter.com/R17wJSaloN
Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.
Follow Kevin on X: @KevLSmittie
This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame captain a semifinalist for prestigious linebacker award
