Notre Dame football: Reasons Drew Pyne could start for the Irish in 2022

Notre Dame football: Reasons Drew Pyne could start for the Irish in 2022

Drew Pyne Knows the Offense Well

Drew Pyne is going into his Junior year at Notre Dame, but he will have four years of eligibility remaining if he wants them. That’s because 2020 didn’t count for anyone, and he played fewer than four games in 2021, so that could act as a redshirt season for him. This makes him a prime candidate to transfer in the modern game.

He has both experience and eligibility left to play. If he doesn’t end up playing for a school like Boston College, Pitt, or even Penn State it would be a surprise. In the meantime, though, Pyne’s experience is an asset for the Irish.

In particular, Pyne knows the offense incredibly well and has been confident when he sees the field. That’s a valuable player to have if you’re Notre Dame football going forward. After all, there is turnover at running back and a weak spot at wide receiver. You need someone who knows how to operate the offense as fluidly as possible.

That’s especially true if the Fiesta Bowl’s offensive scheme is anything like the strategy going forward for Notre Dame. That much downfield throwing requires an experienced and confident quarterback.

When it comes down to a quarterback competition, you can’t be emotional about the decision. That’s a challenge in its own right. In particular, given the coaching change and availability of the one-time transfer rule, if you take a wrong step, players could be on the move. You need to be constantly re-recruiting players already on your roster.

This often rushes high-profile recruits into the spotlight early. That’s a good way to tank a season, though. You need the best possible quarterback, who understands the offense best, on the field.