Illinois Football Offers Scholarship to Brother of Notre Dame Standout

The Illini throw their hat in the ring to try and land a two-sport standout

Nick Shepkowski | Oct 3, 2024

Sep 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema on the sidelines during the second half against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Memorial Stadium. / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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One of the nation's top baseball recruits in the 2026 recruiting class has earned a scholarship offer from the Illinois coaching staff.

The Illinois football coaching staff that is.

On Tuesday evening, Dylan Bowen of Hanover Central High School (Cedar Lake, Ind.) made the announcement of his scholarship offer from Bret Bielema's coaching staff at Illinois.

I’m blessed to receive an offer from the University of Illinois. Thank you @DreBrownILL pic.twitter.com/pMxfFoLSH3
— Dylan Bowen (@dylan_bowen00) October 2, 2024

Bowen is listed at 6-0, 185-pounds on Max Preps and the defensive back has been credited with 59 tackles so far this season. On offense he has three touches for 64 yards through six games.

Dylan Bowen's Two-Sport Notre Dame Brother

Bowen is the younger brother of Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Drayk Bowen, who starred at Andrean High School in Northwest Indiana before signing in South Bend. The elder Bowen is also a two-sport star as he plays baseball as well at Notre Dame.

THAT'S WHAT SPEED DO. @DraykBowen makes a STATEMENT in his first appearance for the Irish and we take the lead!

☘️ 8
🦉 7#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/IHkMIpx8Og
— Notre Dame Baseball (@NDBaseball) February 18, 2024

Dylan Bowen's Recruiting Future

Dylan Bowen is rated as one of the nation's best baseball players in the 2026 recruiting class as he checks in as the 10th overall shortstop in the class according to Prep Baseball Report. Bowen doesn't have a recruiting page on 247Sports or Rivals when it comes to football but perhaps the offer from Illinois will start to help turn more heads about his potential as a two-sport athlete at the next level.

And maybe, just maybe, Illinois being the first to offer him a football scholarship will go a long way in earning his commitment one day down the road.