Drayk Bowen on latest Notre Dame visit, Kenny Minchey, state finals
Notre Dame class of 2023 linebacker commit Drayk Bowen had the game of his life on Friday night. He admits that it was the best he’s ever played.
In helping lead Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean (10-3) to a 48-29 victory over Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Luers (8-6), Bowen ran 34 times for 358 yards and 5 touchdowns. Defensively, he posted 12 tackles (6 for loss), 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble.
Bowen’s Andrean team will face off Friday against Evansville (Ind.) Mater Dei (11-3) in the finals of the Indiana Class 2A state playoffs at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It’s a rematch of last year’s state final, a contest that Andrean won 21-9.
“It’s super exciting to get back there,” Bowen said. “This is what we worked for all offseason. It was cold on Friday night, and we knew our offensive line would have to be strong. It allowed me to find lanes to run through and for big plays to be made.”
The 6-1.5, 233-pounder played his heart out on Friday and was a bit under the weather as well, and then left Saturday morning for a very cold South Bend. Bowen had been to every Notre Dame home game to that point; it would’ve been very understandable if he would’ve just taken the day to relax at home.
But Bowen still made it to campus.
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“A lot of it was about the recruits who were there,” Bowen said about why he made it to Notre Dame. “It’s always good to get there and hang out with everyone and meet more people.”
The main recruit for Bowen to spend time with was Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II class of 2023 quarterback Kenny Minchey, a former Pittsburgh commit who was on campus for his official visit.
“He’s a pretty cool, humble dude,” Bowen said. “I really liked him, and I know he’d be a huge addition to our class.”
According to our count, Saturday was Bowen’s 19th recruiting visit to Notre Dame. There’s not much new to experience (besides seeing an ND game in the snow), but Bowen still gets a lot out of the trips to campus.
“It’s great to build on those relationships,” he said. “Hanging out with the coaches after the win was really fun. It was a great day for everyone.”
The next time the Fighting Irish run onto Notre Dame Stadium, Bowen will be suited up. He’s joining the team in January.
“My parents and I were talking about it. That’s my last time that I’ll be in that stadium not being a student-athlete there,” Bowen noted. “It’s crazy to think that the time is almost here.”
According to the 2023 On3 Consensus, Bowen ranks as the No. 88 overall player and No. 6 linebacker in America.
