Notre Dame football: Ian Book to be QB4 against Jacksonville Jaguars
By Brad Weiss
![BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 14: Ian Book #16 of the New Orleans Saints attempts a pass ""B]"" during the second half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fa43747a75f83fa40f4aa5dde93a6a3ce8038f94d98652a72225c569553d1416f.jpg "BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 14: Ian Book #16 of the New Orleans Saints attempts a pass \"\"B]\"\" during the second half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)")
Former Notre Dame football star Ian Book was the No. 3 quarterback in preseason Game No. 1, but that role will land with Trevor Siemian on Monday night.
After being the starting quarterback for the Notre Dame football team across the last few seasons, Ian Book is fighting for his role at the next level, after being a fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft. Book played the entire second half of the Saints 17-14 loss against the Baltimore Ravens, but may not see the field at all on Monday night.
On Sunday, John Sigler from Saints Wire stated that it will be Siemian who gets the nod as the No. 3 quarterback on Monday night, and the hope is that Book will see the field towards the end of the game. The Saints are trying desperately to figure out the depth chart at the most important position in sports, so this should not come as a shock.
Book played well against Baltimore, throwing for 126 yards on 9-of-16 passing, but he did have an interception late.
Notre Dame football star fighting for No. 3 role
Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill grab most of the headlines in terms of the quarterback spot in New Orleans, due to the fact they are in fierce competition to earn the starting job. For fans of the Notre Dame football program, the storyline they are interested in is the Siemian-Book battle, one that will play out the rest of the summer.
In what is another interesting storyline, the Saints are taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars in this one, which means Trevor Lawrence and Book will be on opposite sidelines for the first time since Clemson beat the Irish in the ACC title game. Lawrence is fighting to be the starter in Jacksonville against Gardner Minshew, but head coach Urban Meyer would be crazy to sit the No. 1 overall pick.
The truth is, there is a lot to like about Book’s situation in New Orleans, and I believe when all is said and done, he will win the No. 3 job. While Winston and Hill are fighting to be the starters in 2021, the long-term solution at the position could be Book, but he first has to earn his roster spot this summer.