​Notre Dame is once again chasing a recruit whose father is a well-known name, and he’s quickly rising as a top priority for the Fighting Irish. In the 2028 class, Notre Dame has a slate of elite targets for head coach Marcus Freeman, but Elmhurst, Illinois, Immaculate Conception athlete Grant Bowen stands out as the standout on my board. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound playmaker checks every box this Notre Dame staff has prioritized in recent cycles: length, versatility, and elite athleticism. It doesn’t hurt that he comes with strong genetics on his side.
Bowen is ranked as the No. 52 overall prospect, the No. 3 athlete, and the No. 4 player from Illinois in the 2028 cycle according to the 247Sports Composite. He is a rare recruit who could realistically project to linebacker, tight end, or defensive end at the college level. Notre Dame views him as a tight end who can operate in space, line up in the slot, and perform a variety of unique roles within the offense.
There is a clear reason why programs such as Notre Dame, Georgia, Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Texas, Florida, Oregon, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Miami have been pursuing Bowen so aggressively. When you watch his sophomore film, the production for a player his age is staggering. Bowen recorded 34 receptions for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he contributed 55 tackles, six tackles for loss, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions. He is the type of elite athlete who can impact the game in myriad ways on the football field.
His father is former NFL safety Matt Bowen, who played in the early 2000s and who also spent time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Iowa program’s tradition of developing tight ends over the last decade poses a legitimate hurdle for Notre Dame to overcome in recruiting Bowen away from a program that has strong ties to his background and the sport’s broader landscape. Navigating that Iowa connection will be a challenge, as will standing out among a crowded field of top-tier programs.
Despite the Hawkeye connection and the intense demand from programs across the nation, Notre Dame has begun this recruitment on solid footing. Bowen hails from the same high school as current Notre Dame defensive end Dominik Hulak, who signed with the Irish in the 2025 class. That shared pipeline matters because it provides a natural connection for the coaching staff to lean on in conversations and evaluations. The familiarity and local ties can be an advantage as the Irish position themselves to land Bowen’s commitment.
Watching Bowen move in space for a player of his size is striking, and it invites imagination about what he could become within the Notre Dame offense. He can impact the game after the catch, threaten seams, line up in the slot, or operate on the boundary in single-wide receiver looks. The upside is immense, and the potential fit at tight end—whether as an in-line presence, an H-back, or a dynamic move weapon in space—could be ideal for what the Irish want to build.
If Bowen were officially listed as a tight end in recruiting services, he would likely be considered among the best at that position for the 2028 class. He has the physical profile, on-field production, and versatility that align perfectly with Notre Dame’s schematic and personnel priorities. The combination of his athleticism, length, and the ability to stretch the field as an offensive tool makes him a prime target for the Fighting Irish, and Notre Dame will need to maintain momentum to keep him away from the programs chasing him as aggressively as they are now.