Notre Dame football has had a revolving door at quarterback this season, but based on his playing time, could Drew Pyne leave South Bend?
No, Notre Dame football quarterback Drew Pyne isn’t in the transfer portal, but given how he’s been used this season, would it be a shock to see him go? Let’s take a second to talk about why Notre Dame football is in this situation with Pyne, and where he could go next if things don’t work out in South Bend.
It’s also worth remembering that by all accounts Pyne is engaged with the team and doing everything the right way. This is more a reflection on the state of college football in 2021.
The challenge is that Pyne doesn’t fit into Notre Dame’s plan. The plan was that Jack Coan would come in and take over for Ian Book for one year. No one thought he’d be great, but he’d be a serviceable option at quarterback to bridge the gap until phenom recruit Tyler Buchner was ready to go.
Of course, it doesn’t need to be restated that this isn’t how things have gone. Pyne has had to come into multiple games, and based solely on what he’s shown in those games, he probably should be getting more playing time. However, given his usage since then, it’s clear the coaching staff isn’t interested in having him as the long-term option in South Bend.
The truth is, if Pyne was going to play, he’d be playing. It’s also difficult to manage quarterbacks in the era of the transfer portal. You have to keep them happy, or they’ll go find a new home. Look at the quarterback situations at Oklahoma, Florida, or really any program that recruits talented quarterbacks.
If they’re not going to play, they’re going to transfer. Now, that’s a healthy thing for the sport, and it’s the right thing for the players, but it does change how coaches manage their rosters. Think about it like this, if Drew Pyne was going to be the next starter for three years or so, why would Buchner stay around? He’d probably transfer.
Because of his age and the lack of hype entering Notre Dame, Drew Pyne is the odd man out of this quarterback room. That means that there is a good chance he decides to transfer from Notre Dame, in search of a job that is all his own.
He could also stay to finish his degree then go. He could potentially never transfer too. This, it should be noted, is speculation. However, it’s speculation rooted in the reality of the modern game too.
So, with all of that being said, here are a few possible landing spots for Drew Pyne, if he were to transfer out of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible landing spots?
UConn
UConn has an argument that they’re the worst FBS team this season, and have been for about five years now. This is a basketball school in the cold and relatively dull Storrs, Connecticut. So, why is it that Drew Pyne would ever consider going to play for the Huskies?
Well, for one, Pyne is from Connecticut. This would allow him to be close to home and play for a team that he likely grew up watching and going to games for. In other words, he could turn himself into a hometown hero in the state of Connecticut. That’s not nothing for most people.
On top of that, Pyne would know that he can walk into UConn and start right away. So, if he were to leave the Irish strictly for playing time, this would be a safe bet. However, it would certainly be a downgrade in terms of the level of competition.
It’s also worth remembering that UConn is going to be getting an entirely new coaching staff. That could impact Pyne’s decision in a major way. What if they were to hire someone who recruited Pyne, or who has some kind of prior relationship with him? Would that matter, or would everything else that comes with UConn matter more?
Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible landing spots?
Boston College
There has been more than enough time and energy spent wishing that Phil Jurkovec hadn’t transferred to Boston College, where he will be the starter for at least another year in all likelihood. Imagine how people would react if Drew Pyne transferred there too?
It makes sense as more than a strange thought experiment. Pyne will have three years of eligibility left after 2021. Going to Boston College for a year learning behind Jurkovec would be a great way to get him ready to lead the Eagles.
Boston College also boasts a young and exciting coaching staff, as well as a very winnable conference to get to play in major bowl games.
On top of that, Boston College is institutionally similar to Notre Dame. It’s an academically minded school that is the only other Catholic school at the FBS level. If that type of school appealed to Pyne once, it certainly will appeal to him again. Add in the simple fact that Boston College is near his home state of Connecticut, and you can bet that the Eagles would be on Pyne’s radar.
Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible landing spots?
Penn State
Penn State learned a lesson against Iowa, you need to manage your quarterbacks so that you always have a quality backup on your roster. The Nittany Lions lost Will Levis to Kentucky, and when Sean Clifford went down with an injury against Iowa, which led to their loss.
Clifford wouldn’t be healthy for the Illinois game either, and Penn State could barely move the ball.
Clifford is now a 23-year-old senior, and Penn State clearly has nothing behind him at quarterback. They’re going to be looking for someone in the transfer portal, most likely, and if Pyne goes into the portal he’ll be someone that gets a lot of attention. After all, he’s played at Notre Dame and proven he can come into bad situations on big stages and make the most of them.
Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin, has also had rumors swirling around him regarding both the USC and the LSU jobs. If he goes, there is going to be the question of who coaches Penn State next, and if Pyne would be a good fit for that system. Assuming he would be a good fit, it would only make the system better for him.
Going to Penn State would also allow Pyne to keep playing major college football, without a step down in prestige from Notre Dame.
Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible landing spots?
Syracuse
Going to Syracuse might seem like an odd choice. Head coach Dino Babers is only 28-40 at Syracuse, with one winning season in 2018. They’re also in upstate New York, where winters are brutal, the football program is overshadowed by basketball at times, and you’re not likely to win anything substantive.
At a glance, it doesn’t make sense.
However, there are two key reasons why Drew Pyne might want to go and play for Syracuse. The first is Dino Babers himself, and his offensive system. The second is the opportunity to play right away.
Stylistically, Pyne is a perfect for Babers’ offense. This is a fast-paced offense that requires a quarterback to make a quick decision and throw quick passes. It will require the occasional deep ball to keep the defense honest, and its best run by an athletic and mobile quarterback. This plays into Pyne’s skill set, as he can run well and easily make a pre-snap read.
Syracuse is also going to offer a lot of great playing time. Their current quarterback, Garrett Shrader isn’t bad, but no one would accuse him of being good either. He certainly runs well, but the passing game under Shrader struggles. Expect Syracuse to go looking for an upgrade here before too long.
So, in a lot of respects, Syracuse is a great fit for Pyne.
Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible landing spots?
Rutgers
Rutgers is a program trying to force its way back into relevance under Greg Schiano. They’re already a lot more respectable than they were before, but there are still issues. In particular, Rutgers has issues on offense, and will likely go looking for solutions on the offensive side of the ball this offseason.
Quarterback is almost always where teams start. So, make no mistake, Pyne makes sense for the Scarlett Knights.
As for Pyne, Rutgers represents a few crucial things that he will likely be looking for in a transfer destination. The first is an opportunity to play right away, which as noted, Rutgers will have. This is going to appeal to Pyne about any school he may transfer to, though. What makes Rutgers stand out from there?
The first is that playing for Rutgers still means playing major college football. The Scarlett Knights are in the Big 10, for better or worse, which means playing for them will keep you playing on the national stage. That’s major college football, and it’s a great opportunity. Rutgers is also still in the northeast, and with Pyne being from Connecticut, this could be much more appealing than to someone from another region.
Notre Dame football: Irish inching towards the top-10 in latest AP Poll
The Notre Dame football team moved up in the latest 2021 AP Poll, and if they play the way they did Saturday, a top-10 spot is a real possibility soon.
So, while Rutgers might be a fun punching bag to joke about, it’s clear that they’re not a bad option either.