iStockphoto
Rumors have been circulating regarding Notre Dame commit Peyton Bowen. The safety is as highly rated as they come, ranking among the top 15 recruits in this cycle at most services.
With that status has come interest from programs across the country, but the defender opted to make his pledge to the Fighting Irish last New Year’s Day.
His suitors included many of the nation’s top teams, including the likes of Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Alabama. And as they say in the world of recruiting, it’s not over until the ink is on the paperwork.
As one would expect, Bowen’s recruitment is far from through, and while he made that commitment to Notre Dame earlier this year, programs are still making their pitches in an attempt to land his services.
According to some social media rumors, those pitches are coming in the form of $2M NIL offers.
BREAKING: Per source, 5-star safety and #NotreDame commit Peyton Bowen is rejecting two NIL offers, north of $2 million each, from #Oklahoma and #Oregon and honoring his ND commitment after a heart-to-heart phone call with Irish HC Marcus Freeman, who he’s meeting with tomorrow.
— CJ Golson (@CJGolson) December 15, 2022
Recruiting “insiders” are reporting that both Oklahoma and Oregon are offering massive deals to push Peyton Bowen off his commitment to the Irish. They’ve also said that the five-star recruit has turned down those offers to come play in South Bend next season.
Now, the only thing larger than the amount of NIL money being thrown at athletes is the rumors surrounding of the amount of money being thrown at athletes.
The high-profile prospect took a moment to clarify what’s been going on with his recruitment, posting a message on Twitter in response to the recent rumors.
Misinformation has been leaked about me and my recruitment. Completely untrue I’m picking a school based on program and best fit for me and where I want to go to school. That simple.
He hints that money has little to do with his decision, though there’s likely a monetary component to his Notre Dame pledge, too. We’ll see if Peyton Bowen sticks with the Irish or if one of his other suitors can sway his mind.