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Notre Dame football: Most exciting 21 moments from the 2021 season

By Brad Weiss

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) rushes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) rushes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Notre Dame football: Most exciting 21 moments from the 2021 season

No. 15: Buchner’s run against Stanford

True freshman quarterback Tyler Buchner was not able to play his senior season of high school football in California due to COVID-19 rules within the state. That meant that when he stepped onto the field as a member of the Notre Dame football team during the 2021 regular season, he had not faced a defense in two years.

To do what he was able to do in Year 1 would have been impressive even if he played his final year of high school, but to do it after a year off sets the program up for major success moving forward. Buchner made his collegiate debut against Toledo in Week 2, and from there, he was a key part of the offense, coming into give teams another look from Jack Coan, who is more of a pocket passer.

In the regular-season finale, we got to see another glimpse of what Buchner could be in 2022, as he scampered 33 yards for a touchdown against Stanford at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

It was the kind of run that showed his athleticism and field awareness, and it was a fitting capper to a dynamic true freshman season for TB12.

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