Notre Dame Fighting Irish news: Peyton Bowen’s recruitment

With Notre Dame football being the program he’s currently committed to, Peyton Bowen’s recruitment is more of a mystery than ever. There have been rumors about NIL money and Bowen de-committing from Notre Dame for Oregon or Oklahoma.

According to most recruiting sites, Peyton is a 5-star safety recruit committed to the Irish for nearly a year. Still, with friends and others committed to the University of Oklahoma, his decision has been more difficult than he initially thought. It has been rumored on social media that Bowen was offered multi-million dollar deals from both Oregon and Oklahoma. Peyton was quick to shoot those rumors down.

It still seems like a process that will come down to the Notre Dame football program and the Sooners. Oregon would only make sense with NIL money involved, given how unclear the school’s future is. Bowen has a tight bond with the Notre Dame commits but is just a couple of hours away from Oklahoma. In addition, high school teammate Jackson Arnold will be attending OU, and it’s rumored his girlfriend will also for what it’s worth.

There’s little doubt which program could set him up to be more successful post-college. Whether it’s the NFL or other career paths, Notre Dame is the clear-cut top option of the schools Bowen is considering. But, again, many factors influence a recruit’s decision of where to continue their education. Football and school aren’t the only factors. Friends, family, proximity to home, and other influences are relevant.

While it would be great to see Peyton stick with the Fighting Irish, a de-commitment wouldn’t mean the end of the world for this program. Freeman and his staff have already shown the ability to develop players into above-average performers. Freshman All-American Benjamin Morrison is the latest instance of Notre Dame’s success.

Marcus Freeman is one of the best recruiting head coaches in the country. He’s a genuine coach that cares deeply about his guys as more than just football players. So whatever happens, Notre Dame will be fine moving forward. Best of luck to Peyton with his decision!