Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/841614
QUARTERBACKS Sophomore Ian Book concluded a solid spring with a fine performance — 17-of-22 passing for 277 yards with one touchdown — in the Blue-Gold Game. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN QUOTABLE: HEAD COACH BRIAN KELLY ON SOPHOMORE IAN BOOK: "Consistency, throws strikes, rarely misses an open receiver, can see the field very well, runs the offense very well. We all came into the spring talking about Brandon Wimbush and rightly so … but the story beneath the story for me was, 'Who the heck is going to be the No. 2 quarterback?' "We've used our No. 2 here, quite a bit. So having that No. 2, and seeing him perform the way he has this spring, for me, has been, one of the big stories." 46 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern Starter ★★★ Doubts exist about experience and depth, but there is no questioning the physical tools that ju- nior Brandon Wimbush brings as the undisputed starter. He possesses tremendous arm strength, excellent speed at the position and is a top-level athlete. During the spring, Wimbush showed the same poise and maturity that helped him lead St. Peter's Prep to a Non-Public Group 4 New Jersey state title as a high school senior. A lot is unknown about Wimbush as a college player, but from a pure skills standpoint he is the most gifted quarterback Brian Kelly has had at Notre Dame. Experience ★★ What Wimbush can do when the lights are shin- ing bright is uncertain. He handled himself well as a prep player, but Notre Dame is a whole different universe. Just about everything that happens to Wimbush in 2017 will be a first. His five pass attempts as a true freshmen came at the end of two blowout victories, so this will be the first time he faces legitimate pressure in college. Until Wimbush makes plays in situations, all there is to do is speculate. Backup quarterback Ian Book is even less expe- rienced, having never played a down of college football. Depth ★½ This is in a little better shape now than at the start of spring. Wimbush was enough of a novice as the starter, but even less was known about the next option Book, who enters his sophomore season. Wimbush at least was a highly ranked recruit, list- ing as the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback and No. 60 overall prospect in the class of 2015 by Rivals. Book arrived as a three-star prospect and the No. 15 pro-style signal-caller in the country. He helped alleviate some concerns with a quality spring, showing off enough arm and athleticism to make it clear he belongs at this level. Behind him will be freshman Avery Davis, a dual-threat option but not a natural drop-back passer, plus senior Montgomery VanGorder, the holder on kicks. Overall Grade ★★½ Grading the quarterback position requires much more projection than last year. Wimbush is physically gifted and smart, and has already earned praise for his on-field leadership. At this point, though, he is too unproven to be graded as capable of leading the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff. This grade could change significantly by the end of the season, assuming Wimbush stays healthy and plays to his prep profile. If he goes down or fails to produce, the Irish will have to rely heavily on their offensive line and gifted running corps to get through the season successfully. 46 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY THE NUMBERS 7 This will be the seventh consecutive year that Notre Dame will have a new starter at quarterback in the opener, with junior Brandon Wimbush slated for the honors this year. His predecessors were: Dayne Crist (2011), Everett Golson (2012), Tommy Rees (2013), Golson (2014), Malik Zaire (2015) and De- Shone Kizer (2016). The previous longest streak was six in a row from 1976-81: Rick Slager (1976), Rusty Lisch (1977), Joe Montana (1978), Lisch (1979), Mike Courey (1980) and Blair Kiel (1981). 992 Rushing yards by DeShone Kizer in 2015 (520) and 2016 (472) combined, the fourth most in a career by an Irish quarterback. Wimbush, a fleet runner who scored on a 58-yard touchdown versus UMass in 2015, might be capable of matching and even eclipsing such figures the next two seasons if he stays healthy.