Notre Dame Football: Can Ian Book become a No. 2 QB in the NFL?
By Brad Weiss
The backup quarterback job is a big one in the NFL, and the question is whether Notre Dame Football QB Ian Book can become a No. 2 at that level.
Over the past few seasons, the Notre Dame Football program has had the luxury of having Ian Book under center as the team’s starting quarterback. Book has left school as the all-time winningest quarterback in program history, a testament to his leadership on and off the field.
Fans of this Notre Dame football program know it was not all good when it came to Book’s play, as he would often improvise, and that would lead to mistakes. However, you cannot deny that this kid is a winner, and since declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft, he has done a nice job raising his draft stock.
After a strong Senior Bowl appearance, and Pro Day, media experts seem to think he is a lock to be drafted during the 2021 NFL Draft, but what happens then?
Can the Notre Dame Football star become a No. 2?
Well, head coach Brian Kelly feels that Book can certainly be a No. 2 quarterback in the league, and that had us thinking, can he actually be a backup quarterback at the next level? Looking at the current cast of backups out there, there is no doubt that if Book can get into the right scheme, and have the right coaches around him, he could definitely be a No. 2 before all is said and done.
Remember, this is a kid who came to South Bend as a three-star talent, and many figured he would just be a depth guy when he arrived on campus. Since then, he has led the Irish to two College Football Playoff appearances and ranks in the top-5 in almost every passing statistic out there.
To say that Book won’t be a No. 2 down the line is to not know the kind of competitor, and athlete that whichever team selects him is getting Book. If he goes to a team that is locked in with a legit No. 2, like the Las Vegas Raiders, he will have to wait his turn, but there are at least 15 other teams who have a starter, and really nothing behind him at the next level.