Notre Dame Football: Tyler Buchner takes over No. 12

The Notre Dame Football team is replacing No. 12 Ian Book this upcoming season, and a future star will don the number at quarterback in 2021.

The Notre Dame Football program will kick off their spring practices on Saturday, and as has been the case for the last four years, No. 12 will be under center for the Irish. The only difference is that it won’t be a familiar No. 12, as Ian Book is on his way to play in the pros, and a true freshman will step in and take over the jersey number.

For the last three seasons, Book has done nothing but win games for the Irish, leading them to two College Football Playoff appearances, and setting the school’s win record along the way. He and his teammates heading to the next level will have their Pro Day next Wednesday, which will be televised, as they make one last effort to raise their draft stock.

For the current Notre Dame Football program, they will practice from now until the final day of April, before battling it out in the Blue-Gold Game on May 1.

Notre Dame Football replacing Ian Book

Taking Book’s famed No. 12 will be true freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner, who many believe is the future in South Bend. Buchner was a highly-rated quarterback coming out of high school, but will likely sit and watch for most of the 2021 season, after not being able to play this past season due to COVID-19 restrictions in the state of California.

When last on the field, Buchner proved to be quite the playmaker, getting the job done on the ground, and through the air, and it will be exciting to see what he has this spring. Taking over for Book on the field is likely Jack Coan, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin who has had success, leading the Badgers to a Big Ten title game.

No matter who is under center in 2021, they will be playing behind a nearly brand new offensive line, and with a wideout group with plenty of questions. Luckily, they have studs at tight end and running back in Michael Mayer and Kyren Williams.