Notre Dame football: Jack Coan wrongly left off Davey O’Brien Watch List
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football program has a solid quarterback in Jack Coan, who was wrongly left off the Davey O’Brien Watch List for 2021.
On Monday, the Bednarik Award and Maxwell Award Watch Lists were announced, and Notre Dame football was represented in both of them. Star running back Kyren Williams is on the Maxwell Award Watch List, and Kyle Hamilton for the Bednarik, and both will be crucial to the Irish’s success in 2021.
On Tuesday, the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List was announced, an award given to the best nation’s best collegiate quarterback, and is the oldest and most prestigious quarterback award. Unfortunately for Notre Dame football, their presumed starter was not on the list, as Jack Coan was left out of the group of 30 signal-callers selected.
Within the list was Coan’s successor at Wisconsin, Graham Mertz, as well as Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec, currently the starter at Boston College. In addition, the Irish will take on five of the 30 quarterbacks on the list in 2021, including Mertz, McKenzie Milton (FSU), Kedon Slovis (USC), Sam Howell (UNC), and Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati).
While Coan may not be at the level of some of these guys, he is more than good enough to be placed on this Watch List, especially since he was on it two years ago as the starter for Wisconsin. He is a very reliable signal-caller, does not make mistakes, and works within the offense, something that is going to win Notre Dame a lot of games this season.
Notre Dame football to lean on Coan at quarterback
In fact, for the Irish to get back to the College Football Playoff, they are going to need Coan to be every bit the leader he was at Wisconsin. With the Badgers, Coan led the team to a Big Ten title game, and with a tough slate in 2021, he will have to navigate some stiff competition to get the Irish back to the Promised Land.
Despite Coan missing out on the list, there is still reason to believe he will have a terrific season, especially if he plays within his strengths. He needs to rely on a great running back in Kyren Williams, and with an elite tight end, and solid offensive line, he should have the time, and weapons he needs to make his only season as the starter a successful one in South Bend.