Notre Dame linebackers Drayk Bowen and Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa aere two of the best in the nation — if not THE best on the nation. There’s only one Butkus Award, however, and both will definitely be in the running for this piece of hardware. It’s kind of a tradition — right? Manti Te’o, Jaylon Smith, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah… all former Irish players that have won this award over the last 15 years. Will Bowen or KVA continue that tradition?
Bowen, Viliamu-Asa Land on Butkus Award Watch List
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Senior linebacker Drayk Bowen and junior linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa have earned selection to the 2026 Butkus Award Watch List, an award that honors the nation’s top linebacker.
An Irish player has won the Butkus Trophy on three occasions: Manti Te’o (2012), Jaylon Smith (2015) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2020). Michael Stonebreaker finished third in the voting in 1988 and 1990. Courtney Watson was one of three finalists for the award in 2002, and Smith was one of five finalists for the award in 2014.
Bowen, who was also named to the watch list last season, started all 12 games in 2025. He led the team with 67 tackles – 33 solo and 34 assisted. He also logged three and a half sacks with four pass breakups.
A St. John, Indiana native, Bowen recorded a career-high 14 tackles, all solo, in a win at Boston College last November. Those 14 tackles were the most by an Irish defender since Alohi Gilman’s 18 against Clemson in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal and the most by any player in the country at that point in the season.
Bowen was a High School Butkus Award Winner during his time at Andrean High School and was named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List earlier this month.
Viliamu-Asa saw time in 11 games last year, making two starts before missing the final game of the season due to injury. The Inland Empire, California native finished fourth on the team with 48.0 total tackles. He notched 7.5 tackles for loss and three sacks to go along with an interception, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries during his sophomore season.
It’s the fourth watch list of the preseason for Viliamu-Asa after being named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, the Nagurski Trophy Watch List and the Lombardi Award Watch List as well. He also earned a spot on the Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team in June.