Should he stay or should he go? What's in it for Ian to stay another year? Earn his masters while QBing the Irish? Having the NFL get one more look at his ability at an elite program? Would it benefit the program? Yes on his experience and leadership skills. If Ian decides to leave, will there be a three way competition for the job or is Clark the heir apparent? If Brendon is, why isn't he getting any quality game reps this season? I found out yesterday that Tyler Buchner is not playing this season, had one season cut really short because of injury, and has had only one full season of football. If this is true, how can he be expected to report to ND and compete for the starting job? anyone have any opinions? Just read the thread that Ian is going to the Senior Bowl.
He's been a solid contributor to the team and does the team credit. But he gains nothing (and neither does ND in the long run) by staying to play another year a 6th year. The attributes that make him a solid game manager in college just won't translate well to the pro game.
The most optimistic outlook would paint him as a pro game manager who can serve a Chase Daniels type long term backup. But he isn't even Chase Daniels. While he looks mobile within the college game, he doesn't have pro level mobility to offset his below average arm (by pro standards). No pro defense is going to worry for 3 seconds about his "mobility." He gets away with his arm because he is playing against college dbs and defenses. While he occasionally goes on hot streaks, his accuracy continues to be below average with the ball frequently reaching receivers late. In the pros, that results in interceptions and wrs getting their asses kicked.
Long story short: free agent who will see a pro camp but will never play in a pro game that counts.
He's not going to get any bigger or stronger at this point, and this is after 4 years of training under Matt Balis' excellent strength and conditioning program (I won't bother with the 1 pathetic year under Paul Longo).
He would have everything to lose by staying another year, since injuries can strike at any time out of nowhere.
That being said, with a continued excellent performance throughout the year, and an excellent Senior Bowl, he'll have a shot at being drafted as a backup QB.
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PFF currently ranks Book #29 nationally among QBs, but notes that he's trending positively. From the linked material:
"There were some massive concerns with Notre Dame's quarterback situation leading up to the program's game against Clemson, as Ian Book wasn’t performing at a level that could get the Irish to CFP-contention status. He put together just a 60.3 passing grade in his first six starts against middling defenses but balled out against the Tigers in Week 10 — his 90.7 passing grade that game was the highest of his career against a Power 5 school. He continued that caliber of play this week against Boston College, as Book came away with his second-best passing grade of the season and led the Irish to the third-most efficient passing offense in the Power 5. His reluctance to throw the ball downfield has disappeared, and he has gotten his accuracy back to the level it was back in 2019. Book’s negatively graded throw rate ranks first among the 39 qualifying Power 5 quarterbacks over the last two weeks."
I don't know if Book has a real NFL career ahead of him or not, but I agree with ndunabomber that he "has nothing to gain" by returning to ND next season.
Link: https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-ranking-all-127-fbs-quarterback-situations-ahead-of-cfb-week-12
Ian is not coming back barring a miracle and his accepting the invite to the Senior Bowl solidifies that for me.
I think it is Buchner's job to lose at this point, but if there is no Spring Ball - it may be Brenden Clark to start the season. Either way from the coaches perspective, a 9 or 10 win season would be a huge success and a return to the playoffs in 2022 would be the long goal.
If he's displaced, my money would be on Pyne. Just based on experience. Especially if there is no spring. Pyne lacks ideal size, to say the least, but he's a very good athlete. Actually reminds me of a quicker Book, with maybe a little better arm strength. And I think some people don't realize that Pyne held offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Michigan, Penn State, and a slew of others. I really like Buchner as a recruit too, though . . .he has better overall physical tools.