Notre Dame Football: A way-too-early look at the Irish offensive depth chart
By Andrew Hall
The Notre Dame football team enters spring practice while trying to establish a new offensive identity. Second-year offensive coordinator Tommy Rees begins reworking the offense as the Notre Dame football attempts to win double-digit games for a fourth straight season.
The Irish must find a new quarterback, wide receivers, and offensive linemen, as they lost a ton of talent after the 2020 college football season. In total, Notre Dame must replace numerous players without any starting experience, but, if things break right, the Fighting Irish could produce a higher scoring offense.
Here is a breakdown of the depth of the Irish offense.
Notre Dame football depth chart: Quarterback
Jack Coan changed the complexion of the Irish spring quarterback derby, as he projects as the opening day starter for the Fighting Irish. Coan led the Wisconsin Badgers to a Rose Bowl berth in 2019 by completing 69.6% of his throws for 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns.
True competition exists between Tyler Buchner, Brendon Clark, Ron Powlus, and Drew Pyne. If one of those 4 quarterbacks plays well enough, he could eventually start this season as well. Who comes out of spring football as the No. 2 quarterback is the most important question of the initial 2021 practices.
- Jack Coan (RS Sr.)
- Drew Pyne (RS Fr.)
- Tyler Buchner (Fr.)
- Brendon Clark (RS So.)
- Ron Powlus III (Fr.)
Buchner brings big expectations to Notre Dame, but, Pyne’s combination of experience, talent, and mental prowess edge Buchner in the spring. Clark may have pushed for the starting position, but his injury impacts his ability to compete in practice, and Powlus begins his Notre Dame journey at the bottom of the depth chart as a developmental prospect.