Notre Dame signees Drayk Bowen and Jeremiyah Love earn Gatorade Player of the Year honors
Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean linebacker Drayk Bowen and St. Louis Christian Brothers running back Jeremiyah Love were named the Gatorade Player of the Year in their respective states on Friday. Both players will play for Notre Dame in 2023.
The Gatorade State Player of the Year award was established in 1985 to recognize the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character.
Bowen is a two-time winner as he also earned the honors in the Hoosier State as a junior in 2021. This season, Bowen rushed for 1,784 yards and 26 touchdowns this past season, leading the Fighting 59ers (10-4) to the Class 2A state championship game. Bowen also caught 10 passes for 228 yards and three scores. The four-star prospect recorded 144 tackles on defense with 19 tackles for a loss, five sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.
“Drayk is a phenomenal football talent,” said Pete Koulianos, head coach of Highland High School, a program that Andrean beat 42-7 this season. “He is so big, fast and physical; you have to game plan for him on both sides of the ball. He carries the ball 20-plus times a game and makes impact plays on defense and special teams.”
Bowen, an All-American Bowl participant, ranks as the nation’s No. 88 overall player and No. 7 linebacker according to the 2023 On3 Consensus. He signed with the Fighting Irish in December and will enroll at the school in less than two weeks.
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Love is the first Gatorade Missouri Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Christian Brothers College.
He led the Cadets to a 13-1 record and the Class 6 state championship this past season. Love rushed for 1,292 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 370 yards and five scores. In CBC’s 35-28, overtime win over Lee’s Summit North High School in the state final, Love rumbled for 212 yards and three scores on the ground and caught three balls for 106 yards and two TDs. The Under Armour All-American was a first-team Class 6 All-State selection.
Love is the nation’s No. 67 overall prospect and No. 5 running back according to the 2023 On3 Consensus.
“As an opposing coach, every time Jeremiyah touched the ball we held our breath,” said Chris Starkey, head coach of Vianney High School, a program that CBC defeated 64-6 this season. “He has amazing size, speed and strength, and everything he does is so smooth and natural.”
Love will enroll at Notre Dame over the summer.
