Bowen attended Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana. He played both linebacker and running back in high school. As a senior in 2022, he had 144 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions as a linebacker and rushed for 1,784 yards with 26 touchdowns as a running back.[1] Bowen won the Butkus Award, given to the top high school linebacker in the country, and was named the Post-Tribune Football Player of the Year.[2][3] He was also named the Indiana Gatorade Football Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons.[4] For his career, he had 379 tackles, 16 tackles, six interceptions, 2,969 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns.[5]
As a true freshman at Notre Dame in 2023, Bowen played in 12 games and had 14 tackles. In the spring 2024, he appeared in three games for the baseball team.[9] As a sophomore in 2024, he took over as a starting linebacker.[10]