Notre Dame football: Buchner out, future of QB position in trouble?

With Tyler Buchner entering the transfer portal, what does the future of Notre Dame football look like at the quarterback position? With Sam Hartman being a one-and-done type of player for the Irish, will that put them in jeopardy at the position when Hartman departs?

My short answer is no, and I think they’ll be more than okay, given how their room is shaping up in 2024. With Steve Angeli consistently showing signs of improvement and Kenny Minchey able to throw accurately downfield, the Irish have capable backups to Hartman this season. Adding, in my opinion, the best quarterback in the class of 2024, CJ Carr, certainly helps my continued confidence in the quarterback room.

In his time with the Irish, Buchner threw just 6 touchdowns to 8 interceptions with a completion percentage of 56.8 in two seasons. He only attempted 118 passes, though, meaning his experience wasn’t what you’d like to see before a player decides to depart. Nevertheless, he still has the athleticism and arm strength to be a great quarterback; he just hasn’t put it together in his time in South Bend.

While I love Tommy Rees, I never thought he was that great of a quarterbacks coach. Staying to learn behind Hartman and from coach Gino Guidugli who turned Desmond Ridder into a future starting NFL QB, would’ve paid enormous dividends for Tyler. That said, it’s been an emotional and bumpy rollercoaster ride for TB12 during his tenure with Notre Dame football; you can’t blame him for seeking a fresh start.

While obviously, this leaves a bit to be desired for the depth of the position in the upcoming season, the Irish will be more than fine moving forward. Hartman is the clear-cut starter and should operate the offense and any Notre Dame football quarterback in recent history. Angeli, Minchey, and soon-to-be CJ Carr will be more than capable of leading the offense in the future.

I know Buchner reported in his social media post that the door back to Notre Dame football remains open. That said, rarely does that happen. We wish TB12 the best of luck moving forward!