Notre Dame football: 3 offensive players who need to be great in 2022

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 18: A Notre Dame Fighting Irish flag is seen before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 18, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 18: A Notre Dame Fighting Irish flag is seen before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 18, 2021 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
Oct 9, 2021; Blacksburg, Virginia, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: 3 offensive players who need to be great in 2022

Tyler Buchner, Quarterback

As stated earlier, the Irish will have to replace graduate transfer Jack Coan in 2022, a player who may have only played one season in South Bend, but really played exceptional football down the stretch. He was a veteran leader for this program, stepping on campus and establishing himself as a key guy for head coach Brian Kelly, and he will certainly be missed.

Replacing Coan this upcoming season will likely be Tyler Buchner, a quarterback who got some significant playing time in 2021, and really showed flashes of brilliance. Buchner proved that he not only could take the hits of playing at the collegiate level, but he could get the job done with his arm, and his legs, making him an interesting playmaker for this team in 2022.

If Buchner can grab the starting role this spring, proving that he is the unquestioned leader going forward, it is great for the program in 2022, and in the long run. There is competition in the form of Drew Pyne and Steve Angeli this offseason, but I believe Buchner wins the job, and he will have to be great in 2022 if the Irish are to do anything of significance.