The college football season gets closer and closer every day, and with spring ball done everywhere, focus turns to recruiting and fall camps in August. Summer conditioning programs will begin soon, but fall camps are where it will all truly start for the 2026 college football season.
Notre Dame captain Drayk Bowen is in the middle of his final offseason with the Irish. After graduating this past weekend, Bowen wasted no time getting back on the grind, working out in California in an epic workout video.
Literally the day after graduating, Bowen posted a video of himself working out in California. It is clear from the video that Bowen is doing everything he can to be ready next season for the Irish. After missing a good portion of Notre Dame spring practices due to recovering from hip surgery from an offseason injury.
Notre Dame LB Drayk Bowen went from graduating at Notre Dame on Sunday to working out in California the following day. If you don’t think he’s ready for a big year then I got some oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you! ☘️💪🏼
— Bruce Straughan (@bruce_straughan) May 19, 2026
🎥 IG ptpt.prototypeplayers pic.twitter.com/o0qh1jZCFA
Drayk Bowen's return to Notre Dame gives the Irish one more season of linebacker excellence
Bowen had the opportunity to go into the 2026 NFL Draft and leave Notre Dame behind, but instead, the captain and star linebacker has decided to return for his final season. In the 2025 season, Bowen was the backbone of the Irish defense under defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
On the field, Bowen was a little down than in the 2024 season performance in tackles with just 67 total tackles and 33 solo tackles, but up in his pass rush defense with three passes defended and 3.5 sacks.
Even though the Notre Dame defense had a slow start in 2025, it found its footing after the two early losses and became one of the more dominant defenses in college football. Bowen was a large part of that, and now with a return in 2026, Notre Dame's defense has a chance to be even better.
Behind Bowen at the linebacker position and Leonard Moore in the secondary, Notre Dame can be a defense that no opposing offense wants to face. Bowen is still coming off that hip injury, but being able to return in spring ball was huge for Notre Dame. He still has a way to go, but the workout video has to have fans excited for his final season in an Irish uniform.
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