Notre Dame Football 2021: 25 Most Impactful Players, No. 5-1
By Jack Leniart
Notre Dame Football 2021: 25 Most Impactful Players, No. 5-1
4. Jack Coan (Quarterback)
- Best Ranking: 1
- Worst Ranking: 10
Jack Coan spent the last four seasons at the University of Wisconsin. He was a three-star prospect in the Badgers 2017 recruiting class.
He did not receive any significant playing time until his sophomore season in 2018, as that year, Coan stepped into the starting lineup after Alex Hornibrook suffered a concussion. Coan started four games for the Badgers that season and threw for 442 yards and four touchdowns.
In the ensuing off-season, Coan won the starting quarterback job. He started all 14 games for Wisconsin during the 2019 season, which included appearances in the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl.
Coan completed 70 percent of his passes and threw for 2,727 yards and 18 touchdowns.
When a foot injury kept him on the sidelines for the majority of the 2020 season, redshirt freshman Graham Mertz emerged as the quarterback of the future for the Badgers. That development led Coan to enter his name in the transfer portal in December.
Brian Kelly and this Notre Dame football coaching staff, needing to replace the winningest quarterback in the history of their program, were quick to begin their recruitment of Coan. Two weeks after he entered the transfer portal, Coan committed to Notre Dame.
While Coan may not have the same athletic ability that Ian Book had, he still brings a lot to the table. He is an accurate passer who takes care of the football, and he has plenty of big-game experience. Coan is a perfect bridge quarterback for Notre Dame football as they continue to develop some of the younger players in that position group.