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Heading into 2021, the Notre Dame offensive depth chart is going to look waaaaaaaay different than it did 2020. While RB (Williams, Tyree, Flemister) and TE (Mayer, Takacs) are pretty easy to project based on returning production and available bodies, there are major questions to be answered everywhere else. We've already got a thread on the 2021 offensive line, and I'm sure we will debate the situation at WR plenty at some point.
So how about we get right into the good stuff: the University of Notre Dame's starting QUARTERBACK for 2021.
Will it be the one-year rental from Wisconsin, Jack Coan? How about the Freshman Phenom, Tyler Buchner? ND 'veteran' Brendon Clark (and his amazing mullet)? Youngster Drew Pyne, who finished '20 as Ian Book's backup and completed a pass against Alabama in the College Football Playoff? Or will the other freshman surprise everyone, with Ron Powlus III taking over right away, eventually destined to win two or three Heisman trophies?
The candidates:
Jack Coan, SR. 6-3, 221
- Started at Wisconsin as a Junior in 2019, passing for 2727 yards, 18 TDs (5 INTs).
- Played against tOSU in the 2019 B1G Championship, throwing for 232 yards, rushing for 27 yards and 2 scores in a 21-34 loss.
- Played in the Rose Bowl the same season, throwing for 186 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in a 27-28 loss.
- Missed 2020 with injury, seeing Graham Mertz take the starting role. Did not get a chance to play once he got healthy
Brendon Clark, JR. 6-1, 212
- Played in a 2019 win against New Mexico, throwing a 22-yard TD to Braden Lenzy and creating a mini backup-QB controversy with Phil Jurkovec
- Saw action against Pitt in 202, before hurting his knee and getting shut down for the year at an unspecified point in time
Drew Pyne, SO. 5-11, 194
- Played in four games as a freshman, completing passes against South Florida and Alabama.
Tyler Buchner, FR. 6-2, 205
- Highly-rated four-star QB by 247 and Rivals
- Above-average arm strength and accuracy
- Great mobility and surprisingly strong ball carrier
- At his best when he's improvising
Ron Powlus III, FR. 6-3, 230
- Three-star recruit
- ND legacy, though he has a bit more potential than just being a 'name' based on his measurables and film
- Could be in the Ian Book School of 'Three-Star Insurance Policy that Pays Off Big-Time at Some Point'
Who's it gonna be?
Coan probably signed up with an understanding that he's got the inside track at the job. He's a veteran QB with big-game experience and a decent record of efficiency in his only full year as a starter. Those are great things to add to an unproven QB room. You could also argue that he was set to make a big jump in his second year as a starter at Wisconsin prior to his injury. However, his numbers in the two biggest games he played in 2019 were not great, which rings alarm bells for people that had strong feelings on Ian Book's ability to get ND 'over the hump.'
Buchner is the high-upside guy based on his recruiting profile... but he's played one season worth of football in the past three years, and it was against less-than-stellar competition. He's at his best when improvising, apparently, which is reminiscent of Ian Book (which is a welcome comparison, in this case), but with a better arm and more physical stature when running the ball. But there is debate about his mechanics, and he's totally unproven against high-level competition.
Clarke and Pyne each have very little experience to their names, though they benefit from added time in the system when compared to the highly-regarded Buchner, which can't be overlooked (especially with the debate about BK's willingness to get offensive rookies involved).
Powlus is a guy that initially looks like an insurance policy for filling out the depth chart, but he's got legit measurables and a decent arm. He probably doesn't win the starting job this year, but he could play a big, important role at some point (again with the Ian Book parallels!).
I think it will be Coan, but I hope they are prepared to get Buchner involved in more than just mop-up duty. If not, it's a failure on BK and Tommy Rees, IMO. You HAVE to be better prepared for the future... this isn't Oklahoma, where it's easy to keep pulling grad transfers. That's not sustainable, and it doesn't bode well for QB development or the incumbents on the roster.
So how about we get right into the good stuff: the University of Notre Dame's starting QUARTERBACK for 2021.
Will it be the one-year rental from Wisconsin, Jack Coan? How about the Freshman Phenom, Tyler Buchner? ND 'veteran' Brendon Clark (and his amazing mullet)? Youngster Drew Pyne, who finished '20 as Ian Book's backup and completed a pass against Alabama in the College Football Playoff? Or will the other freshman surprise everyone, with Ron Powlus III taking over right away, eventually destined to win two or three Heisman trophies?
The candidates:
Jack Coan, SR. 6-3, 221
- Started at Wisconsin as a Junior in 2019, passing for 2727 yards, 18 TDs (5 INTs).
- Played against tOSU in the 2019 B1G Championship, throwing for 232 yards, rushing for 27 yards and 2 scores in a 21-34 loss.
- Played in the Rose Bowl the same season, throwing for 186 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT in a 27-28 loss.
- Missed 2020 with injury, seeing Graham Mertz take the starting role. Did not get a chance to play once he got healthy
Brendon Clark, JR. 6-1, 212
- Played in a 2019 win against New Mexico, throwing a 22-yard TD to Braden Lenzy and creating a mini backup-QB controversy with Phil Jurkovec
- Saw action against Pitt in 202, before hurting his knee and getting shut down for the year at an unspecified point in time
Drew Pyne, SO. 5-11, 194
- Played in four games as a freshman, completing passes against South Florida and Alabama.
Tyler Buchner, FR. 6-2, 205
- Highly-rated four-star QB by 247 and Rivals
- Above-average arm strength and accuracy
- Great mobility and surprisingly strong ball carrier
- At his best when he's improvising
Ron Powlus III, FR. 6-3, 230
- Three-star recruit
- ND legacy, though he has a bit more potential than just being a 'name' based on his measurables and film
- Could be in the Ian Book School of 'Three-Star Insurance Policy that Pays Off Big-Time at Some Point'
Who's it gonna be?
Coan probably signed up with an understanding that he's got the inside track at the job. He's a veteran QB with big-game experience and a decent record of efficiency in his only full year as a starter. Those are great things to add to an unproven QB room. You could also argue that he was set to make a big jump in his second year as a starter at Wisconsin prior to his injury. However, his numbers in the two biggest games he played in 2019 were not great, which rings alarm bells for people that had strong feelings on Ian Book's ability to get ND 'over the hump.'
Buchner is the high-upside guy based on his recruiting profile... but he's played one season worth of football in the past three years, and it was against less-than-stellar competition. He's at his best when improvising, apparently, which is reminiscent of Ian Book (which is a welcome comparison, in this case), but with a better arm and more physical stature when running the ball. But there is debate about his mechanics, and he's totally unproven against high-level competition.
Clarke and Pyne each have very little experience to their names, though they benefit from added time in the system when compared to the highly-regarded Buchner, which can't be overlooked (especially with the debate about BK's willingness to get offensive rookies involved).
Powlus is a guy that initially looks like an insurance policy for filling out the depth chart, but he's got legit measurables and a decent arm. He probably doesn't win the starting job this year, but he could play a big, important role at some point (again with the Ian Book parallels!).
I think it will be Coan, but I hope they are prepared to get Buchner involved in more than just mop-up duty. If not, it's a failure on BK and Tommy Rees, IMO. You HAVE to be better prepared for the future... this isn't Oklahoma, where it's easy to keep pulling grad transfers. That's not sustainable, and it doesn't bode well for QB development or the incumbents on the roster.
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