Notre Dame Football: Can Drew Pyne push Jack Coan for the starting job?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Drew Pyne #10 warms up before the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 31-14. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

2 of 3

Notre Dame football QB Jack Coan. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

So why did the Notre Dame Football program bring in Jack Coan?

The question may be, “Why to bring in Jack Coan if he’s not going to start?”

Well, first off, you want the best quarterback on the roster to start. It’s very possible Coan isn’t the best quarterback, as this happens to transfers all the time. Look at former Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush.

He transferred to UCF to compete for the starting job following the McKenzie Milton injury. Milton’s replacement from the year before, Darriel Mack, broke his ankle over the summer and set Wimbush up as the starter. By halftime of the opening game against FCS Florida A&M, he’d lost the job to true freshman Dillon Gabriel.

Why? Gabriel was simply the better player and earned it over him. Coan has to earn the job ahead of Pyne.

Now, that doesn’t mean Coan doesn’t add value, even as a backup. He’d bring depth in the case of injuries, which is always important. Furthermore, he gives the younger players, like Tyler Buchner, guidance that they need from a senior leader.

Home/Notre Dame Football