Notre Dame Football: Is Jack Coan a top-25 quarterback in 2021?

The Notre Dame Football team will likely roll with Jack Coan at quarterback in 2021, but is he one of the top-25 signal-callers in the country?

For the past three seasons, the Notre Dame Football program has had the luxury of having Ian Book as their quarterback. With Book under center, the Irish went to two of the last three College Football Playoffs, and he played so well that he ended up being a fourth round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Replacing him is going to be tough, but the Irish will likely do so with a guy with ton of experience playing against big-time programs. Jack Coan was a starter for the Wisconsin Badgers back in 2019, and he certainly had plenty of highs.

However, one major publication does not feel he will be one of the top starters in college football in 2021.

Recently, the Sporting News put out a list of the top-25 quarterback entering the 2021 college football season, and Coan was nowhere to be found. You can see why, as he did not play last season due to a foot injury in camp, and Graham Mertz emerged as a freshman for the Badgers.

When healthy, Coan was solid for Wisconsin, and there is no reason to believe he won’t be for the Irish as well.

Notre Dame Football will need 2019 version of Coan in 2021

Back when he was the starter for the Badgers during the 2019 college football season, Coan was one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten. In fact, he led Wisconsin to the Big Ten title game, falling to Ohio State, as well as the Rose Bowl, where the Badgers lost by one point to Oregon.

Overall, Coan threw for over 2,700 yards and 18 touchdowns, all the while throwing only five interceptions. That kind of production will get it done in South Bend, especially with an incredible running back in Kyren Williams behind him in the backfield.

Notre Dame Football: Kyren Williams a first-down machine for the Irish

Last season, Notre Dame Football saw Kyren Williams burst onto the scene, setting the stage for what should be an excellent 2021 campaign.

When all is said and done, the Irish could finish up towards the top of the final top-25 ranking, and if Coan plays well, he will be a big reason why. The Irish do not need much preseason hype when it comes to Coan, but if he is anything like the player he was at Wisconsin, he will certainly be one of the 25 best quarterbacks in the country this season.