Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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10 MAY 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME He'll Prove The Doubters Wrong Again By Todd D. Burlage Ian Book has heard the naysayers before. He heard their noise at Oak Ridge High School near Sacramento, Calif., in 2016 when folks wondered why Notre Dame would offer a scholarship to only the 15th-best quarterback in the country. He heard it at Notre Dame when he was presumed to be merely keeping the starting job warm until four-star hotshot recruit Phil Jurkovec was ready. Book heard it the entire time he was winning more games than any starting QB in Irish history. "He doesn't throw downfield, he bails on plays too quickly, he prefers run over pass," were some of the more popular critiques in 2019, the year before Book led the Irish to the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years. And now Book is hearing it all over again as he goes through his pre-draft prep work. The prominent noise this time is that Book — at only 6-0 and 211 pounds — has neither the size nor the arm strength to play at the next level. "I'm not getting any taller, so it's just the way it is," Book said before his audition at Notre Dame's pro day March 31. Nobody is ready to anoint Ian Book as the next Drew Brees — the definition of an undersized, overachieving NFL quarterback. But given Book's history of overcoming the odds, there is no doubt he will secure a place on an NFL roster, write his latest success story, prove the naysayers wrong again and become a valuable backup to begin his professional career. Size, Arm Talent Make It Remote For Now By Lou Somogyi Growing up, one of my boyhood heroes was 1972-74 Irish quarterback Tom Clements, who was at the throttle for the 1973 national champs. So as a 12-year-old, I was mystified when Clements wasn't one of the 10 Notre Dame players selected in the 1975 NFL Draft that included 442 picks and 17 rounds. Those more in the know explained to me that the NFL is different, and that Clements didn't quite possess the size (6-0 tall) or arm strength to thrive at that level. The first time I watched Ian Book perform, he reminded me so much of Clements: not great stature, but cagey, resourceful, superbly elusive (both would rush for over 1,000 yards in their careers), clutch in the fourth quarter and a highly respected leader by teammates. Their college records were also similar, with Clements 29-5 as a starter and Book 31-5, minus the title. Book's arm talent was fine, but not one to leave pro scouts salivating. And yes, we're well aware of the Drew Brees', Russell Wilsons and Kyler Murrays of the world who also were/are smaller of frame, but those are exceptions, not the rule. Maybe Book can "break the rules" too — and it doesn't have to be in his rookie year. Clements was a brilliant quarterback in the Canadian Football League before he made the Kansas City Chiefs roster six years later in 1980. There he played in one game before returning to the CFL for seven more outstanding years. Book in the NFL sooner or later wouldn't be a complete shock, but the chances do appear remote. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WILL IAN BOOK BE ON AN NFL ROSTER THIS FALL? With 72 career touchdown passes, 8,948 pass- ing yards, a program-record 31 career wins as a starting quarterback and two College Football Playoff appearances, Ian Book cemented his place in 2020 as one of the best signal-callers ever to play at Notre Dame. But the immediate question after Book's college career ended was, "Can he find his place as an NFL quarterback?" At 6-0 and 211 pounds, the primary pre-draft concerns over Book center on his lack of proto- typical size for an NFL quarterback. That said, Book's winning acumen, smarts, and an ability to make something out of nothing with his arm and his legs still provided plenty of in- trigue and curiosity for NFL personnel at both the Senior Bowl in January — where Book was named the National Team's top quarterback by the opposing defensive backs — and again at Notre Dame's pro day March 31. Book met with the media via Zoom prior to his workout to discuss his time at Notre Dame and what's next. BGI: What have been your primary pre-draft objectives since your season and career ended at Notre Dame? Book: "I just want to show I can compete, make all the throws on the field and everything will take care of itself, that's what I'm telling myself. The three things I want to show are leadership, accuracy and my playmaking ability. "Those are the three things I pride myself on." BGI: You had a strong showing during Senior Bowl week. What did you want to prove at that important pre-draft showcase? Book: "The main thing I wanted to show was that I could pick up the playbook pretty fast and I wanted to show the guys that I could lead them. I felt like I could compete with all of those guys. "What I expected to do was to go out and com- pete, and I just had fun doing it." BGI: And assuming you get drafted, what comes next? Book: "A lot of times, people who don't make it, they feel uncomfortable in those situations and that's why they don't last. It's about going to whoever picks you and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. "It's going to be hard when you get there, so learn the playbook as fast as you can, and once you learn that, you can show everything else that comes natural to you." BGI: Looking back on your fine college career, what was your favorite moment as an Irish player? Book: "Beating Clemson on Nov. 7 was probably the best one, just being able to play the No. 1 team in the country, and then being able to play them at home under the lights, beating them in overtime and storming the field. That was cool." BGI: Have you had any contact with the Irish quarterbacks trying to claim the job opening you left behind? Book: "I've talked to all of them now. I was able to go to the first spring practice and I have got- ten to see them throw a few times. I'm honestly excited for that battle. All of those guys can play. "That's the biggest thing — competition is go- ing to lead to the best thing for Notre Dame." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … FORMER NOTRE DAME QUARTERBACK IAN BOOK Despite being the winningest quarterback in Fighting Irish history, Book has no guarantee he will hear his name called during the upcom- ing NFL Draft. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS