Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE BY ANDREW OWENS One year ago at this time, Notre Dame wasn't even on quarterback Ian Book's radar. The El Dorado, Calif., product was close with Mike Sanford, then an as- sistant at Boise State. After National Signing Day, Irish quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur left for the NFL, creating a vacancy on Notre Dame's staff. Head coach Brian Kelly filled it with Sanford, which set in motion the series of events that would lead to Book being Notre Dame's signal-caller in the 2016 class. "I remember it all started when he was at Boise State," Book said. "I was really, really considering them, and then he ended up leaving and going to Notre Dame. "I didn't really know what was going to happen after that. He was one of the main reasons Boise was so high on my list. I didn't know if I was going to hear from him when he went to Notre Dame. I did my own thing and went on with my recruiting process." He committed to Washington State, but a few months later Sanford began to push for Book to join him in South Bend. The quarterback did not want to disregard his pledge to the Cougars, but it was difficult for him to say no to Sanford. Once he visited campus, the decision became simple. "Coach Sanford hit me up and said he was going to make it work," Book said. "I was just really honored and excited. I knew how good of a school it is and Ian Book's Relationship With Mike Sanford Led Him To ND Book, the nation's No. 14 pro-style quarterback according to Rivals, was originally being recruited by Sanford to go to Boise State before following the Irish offensive coordinator to South Bend. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM