Notre Dame football has a special player at quarterback and based on his 2020 season, there is no doubt he should be a Heisman contender.
Ian Book probably receives more respect nationally than from Notre Dame football fans. He is a talented playmaker and an unprecedented winner. Even though Book is more respected nationally, he is not garnering the same Heisman buzz as Florida’s Kyle Trask or Alabama’s Mac Jones.
The top contenders include Trask, Jones, BYU’s Zach Wilson, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Alabama’s DeVonta Smith.
"Even North Carolina head coach advocated for Book as a Heisman candidate. He said, “And let me say at the same time, Ian Book was as good tonight as anybody I’ve ever seen. We couldn’t tackle him. I mean, we harassed him. We had people around him, there could have been six sacks. We could not get him on the ground. And then he made some unbelievable plays on third down. I don’t know if he’s in the Heisman race or not, but he should be. His record is 29-3, he’s fast, he’s quick, he’s accurate, he’s smart. He’s not going to do things to get his team beat. But I was so impressed with him tonight. I was impressed with him as much as any quarterback I’ve seen.” This is enormous praise from a man who has coached and worked as a commentator for several years. Vince Young, Mack Brown’s national champion winning quarterback, was the Heisman runner-up in 2005."
Book should be receiving more consideration for college football’s greatest individual prize and here are 3 reasons why.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons Ian Book should be a Heisman contender
Notre Dame’s 2020 performance
Although the determining factors for Heisman have shifted through the years, team performance is critical. Only the late Paul Horning won the trophy with a losing record (Notre Dame went 2-8 in 1956).
Ian Book is the signal caller of the No. 2 team in the country. The Irish have more victories than any other Heisman hopeful’s team besides BYU and Zach Wilson. He has victories over the current No. 3 and No. 19 teams in the nation and he led the Irish to their 1st victory over a top ranked team since 1993 when the Irish defeated Clemson, 47-40.
There is probably no argument that this win represents the best victory thus far.
With his next victory, Book will become Notre Dame’s winningest quarterback, surpassing Brady Quinn, Tom Clements and Ron Powlus. Depending on how the season finishes, Book might own records for most wins and best winning percentage.
Clements won 29 out of 34 victories or a .853 winning percentage, and the most likely worst case scenario, two more regular season victories, and two postseason losses would leave Book with a .861 winning percentage, slightly higher than Clements’ .853.
Aside from the national title, he has accomplished almost every possible milestone. The success of the Irish football team is enough to be considered for the Heisman Trophy, but it is not the only attribute that Book brings to the table.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons Ian Book should be a Heisman contender
His Heisman moments
Heisman moments used to serve as a critical part of a player’s résumé. During the 2012 ABC broadcast of Notre Dame-Oklahoma, play-by-play broadcaster Brent Musburger exclaimed, “That might be a Heisman moment for Te’o,” when the Irish linebacker intercepted a deflected football. As the Heisman becomes more of a statistical award, these moments matter less.
However, they could differentiate Book from his competitors.
Against Clemson, with the game on the line, Book took to the field trailing 30-23 with 1:41 left in the contest. After a few plays, Notre Dame still needed 57 yards to tie the game with 1:00 remaining. This was the moment of Book’s first Heisman moment.
As he dodged a Clemson rusher, Book did what everything thought was impossible: he completed a pass down field. After 43 yards of catch and run, Notre Dame was at the Clemson 4-yard line. Two plays later, he found Davis again for another score.
Book also unveiled the backhanded flip during the 2020, most notably during the North Carolina game. With the rush about to engulf him, Book flung an option-like forward pitch to freshman tight end Michael Mayer.
He would not have been able to flip his hips and make the throw without being sacked. This type of improvisation makes him one of the best broken play quarterbacks in college football.
Notre Dame Football: 3 reasons Ian Book should be a Heisman contender
His 2020 statistics
Ian Book’s 2020 statistics are not quite as eye-popping as his competition. Here is a brief comparison of some of the top quarterback contenders:
- Mac Jones, Alabama: 2,728 yards, 23 TDs, 3 INTs, 76.2% completion percentage
- Kyle Trask, Florida: 2,810, 34 TDs, 3 INTs, 71.4% completion percentage
- Zach Wilson, BYU: 2,724 yards, 26 TDs, 2 INTs, 74.3% completion percentage
- Justin Fields, Ohio State: 1,208 yards 13 TDs, 3 INTs, 79.6% completion percentage
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson: 2,236 yards, 19 TDs, 2 INTs, 70.6% completion percentage
- Ian Book, Notre Dame: 2,097 yards, 12 TDs, 1 INTs, 63.1% completion percentage
Book is almost last among Heisman contenders in every single major statistical category. However, against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, Book ranks 8th in passing yards per game. Only Trask and Jones rank higher.
However, Book’s rushing ability dominates his fellow Heisman contenders. This season, he has rushed for 412 yards and 6 touchdowns. Zach Wilson ranks 2nd with 191 yards and 8 touchdowns. Book’s additional rushing yards and touchdowns makes the race for total offensive yards much closer.
- Mac Jones, Alabama: 2,725 yards, 24 TDs
- Kyle Trask, Florida: 2,898, 34 TDs,
- Zach Wilson, BYU: 2,915 yards, 34 TDs
- Justin Fields, Ohio State: 1,343 yards, 16 TDs
- Trevor Lawrence, Clemson: 2,316 yards, 23 TDs
- Ian Book, Notre Dame: 2,509 yards, 18 TDs
With the statistical debate closer, Book deserves serious consideration when his other factors are added. Other quarterbacks and players might have the inside track on winning the Heisman Trophy. But, the quarterback from El Dorado Hills, California at least deserves to be a finalist for college football’s most prestigious individual award.