Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2020 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 45 QUARTERBACKS NOTABLE DATA Georgia had the highest ranking of an oppos- ing pass efficiency defense Book faced during the 2019 season, at No. 8 overall. Virginia Tech (No. 27) and Duke (No. 40) were the next best. The opponents look to be stingier in 2020. Clemson (No. 2), Pittsburgh (No. 11) and Wis- consin (No. 13) were all top-15 pass efficiency defenses in 2019, and each ranked among the national top six in sacks. Clemson intercepted 19 passes in 2019, the third most nationally. Wisconsin loses its top two pass rushers, while Pitt brings back nearly all of its pass-rush pro- duction. Clemson and Wisconsin also ranked among the top 15 in fewest passing yards al- lowed per game. Per Pro Football Focus, Book led all Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks with 19 touch- down passes against blitzes, meaning more than half his scoring throws came when op- ponents blitzed. DID YOU KNOW? Book ended the year by throwing 17 touchdowns against two interceptions over Notre Dame's final five games. He was not intercepted in any of the last four contests. He was one of two Football Bowl Sub- division quarterbacks in 2019 to throw for at least 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns while also rushing for 500 yards. Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts was the other. With 57 career touchdown passes, Book is only five away from passing Tommy Rees for second most in program history. He is currently fourth. Book trails only Brady Quinn for the most single-season touchdown passes and most career four-touchdown games in Notre Dame history. In the win over Duke on Nov. 9, 2019, Book be- came the first Notre Dame quarterback to throw four touchdowns and run for at least 100 yards. 2019 VS. 2020: STOCK UP OR DOWN? The overall stock is about the same as it was heading into 2019. Fifth-year senior Ian Book is an established starting quarterback and gives Notre Dame a high-floor offense. Even as his completion percentage and yards per attempt dipped in 2019, he still piloted Notre Dame's highest-scoring offense under Brian Kelly and helped it defeat the lesser opponents it was supposed to handle. The next step in cementing himself as one of Notre Dame's better quarterbacks and taking the Irish back to the College Football Playoff is being the main reason his team wins a game against a marquee opponent. He didn't perform well enough in Notre Dame's two 2019 losses. Two interceptions in a September loss at Georgia hurt, but he also threw for more yards against the Bulldogs than anyone except Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. Notre Dame has two green backups, sophomore Brendon Clark and early enrollee freshman Drew Pyne. Clark threw one pass and played 19 snaps in three games. X-FACTOR Book has stayed relatively healthy since becoming the starter, but an injury to him would be particularly concern- ing given the lack of experience and depth behind him because of Phil Jurk- ovec's transfer to Boston College. Jurkovec was considered Notre Dame's next great quarterback recruit. Clark and Pyne, while well- regarded prospects themselves, don't offer the mix of imme- diate upside and experience Jurkovec would have. Backup quarterback competitions get very little attention, but Notre Dame should hope for a fast resolution to its own this year. FRESHMAN OUTLOOK Pyne is the latest high school state champion quarterback Notre Dame has signed. He led New Canaan (Conn.) High School to a pair of state titles and threw 24 touchdown passes as a senior while adding eight rush- ing touchdowns. Lauded for his accuracy, he was Rivals' No. 7 pro-style quarterback and No. 117 overall player in the 2020 class. Pyne was the first early enrollee quarterback at Notre Dame since Ma- lik Zaire in 2013, but with spring practice canceled after one session he will have a tougher challenge for the No. 2 role. Sophomore Brendon Clark completed his lone career pass attempt for a 22-yard touchdown to wideout Braden Lenzy against New Mexico last year. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS (3) Listed after the class year is the years of eligi- bility remaining. 12 Ian Book (6-0, 206), 5th-Sr./1 7 Brendon Clark (6-2, 212), So./4 10 Drew Pyne (5-11½, 194), Fr./4