Notre Dame football: Who would make the better backup QB?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team still has not named a starting quarterback for the 2021 season, but which player would be the best backup?
The biggest storyline this offseason when it comes to the Notre Dame Football program has been who will step in and fill the shoes of Ian Book. Book, the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history, was a fourth-round selection of the New Orleans Saints this season and leaves the Irish with a gaping hole at the most important position in sports.
Luckily, Brian Kelly had a plan, and that was to go out and get an experienced veteran like Jack Coan to take over for Book. Coan, who led Wisconsin to a Big Ten title game the last time he was a full-time starter, has done nothing to lose the starting job this offseason, but Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner are not letting him just have it.
In fact, some feel that Pyne should be the starter for the Irish this upcoming season, but as we inch closer to the summer, it is looking like Coan will be the guy, so who backs him up?
Notre Dame Football to likely go with Jack Coan as the starter
If the Irish do go with Coan as the starter, as he has the experience to make Notre Dame a winner again in 2021, who is the better option as the backup? Drew Pyne is having a great spring, and during the Blue-Gold Game, Tyler Buchner looked nothing like a true freshman who had not played since his junior season in high school.
Coming out of high school, Pyne was a huge recruit for the Irish, and he is starting to show that he could certainly be a starter at the college level. This is a battle that is going to go into the summer and will be something to keep an eye on throughout the summer months.
My thoughts are that Pyne should be the No. 2 as we head into the Florida State game, as he gives the team the best chance to win if Coan goes down. Buchner should be used sparingly this season, keeping a year of eligibility if need be, and then battling it out with Pyne and Steve Angeli next offseason.
With so many young signal-callers on the roster, you have to think that whoever does not get the starting job next year is going to look to transfer out.