By Nick Kremer | Editor | Twitter @NickKremerIT | @irish_tribune
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As the Notre Dame football team looks to make a run at the National Championship, one position that will be crucial to their success is the quarterback. After an 8-4 finish this year, the Notre Dame coaching staff has set its sights on bringing in an elite transfer quarterback. Who that quarterback will be is still up for debate, and it may be a few weeks until we officially know who it is. As Irish fans argue with each other on social media about which quarterback will take the Irish to the promised land, The Irish Tribune staff wanted to jump in on the fun. Each writer and editor were asked who they would pick out of all the transfer portal quarterbacks, and here is what we are thinking.
Photo Credit - Coastal Carolina Athletics
☘️ Chris Studer - Editor
With the first pick in the 2022 Transfer Portal Draft the Fighting Irish select…Grayson McCall! While this might not happen, Irish fans due to a never-ending list of reasons, and even though a GM (Me) doesn’t really have to explain draft selections I’m going to give you some insight to my QB selection. While there are several talented options out there in the Portal including but not limited to Hudson Card (Texas), Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Devin Leary (NC State), I believe Grayson McCall gives the Irish the best chance of bringing that elusive CFB National Championship trophy to South Bend (and who wouldn’t want that??). McCall would be leaving Coastal Carolina after three successful and quite dominating years. With even some Heisman hype surrounding him. This young man has the big arm that can stretch the opposing defense, the legs to make some magic happen when the play breaks down and most importantly the accuracy to keep the ball away from our opponents. While Pyne was conservative with the rock his interceptions and fumbles always seemed to come at the most inopportune time. McCall on the other hand has had less INTs with each passing season, even though with season he would be slinging the rock even more. This was the deciding factor that led me to choose McCall, since we all know about the turnover problem with Sanders (2021 Big 12 Championship game anyone?). Looking at the other big-name options, for Leary I’m still weary of his injury, and for Card, who I really like, could throw a wrench into ND’s future QB plans (Carr and Minchey) since he enters the portal with the most eligibility left and the least amount of game play to analyze. With Pyne leaving and the jury still out on Buchner, I believe that McCall is the guy to take us back to the CFP and nab that twelveth National Championship! Go Irish!
Photo Credit - Yahoo Sports
☘️ Michael Stacy - Writer
Notre Dame is in the midst of a VERY important off-season and no position is more important than quarterback. Drew Pyne is out, leaving Tyler Buchner, Steve Angeli, and incoming freshman Kenny Minchey as the viable options for next year's starter. The Irish desperately need someone from the portal to come in and not only add depth but fight for the starting role. Let me make myself clear when I say that I have NOT given up on Tyler Buchner. I believe he can still be the guy who can lead the Irish to a championship. However, with his limited play over the past 3 years (Did not play his senior year due to covid) and history of injuries, we need another option in case he is not physically or developmentally ready to go.
That brings us to the portal and for me, it comes down to two players, Devin Leary and Hudson Card. Devin Leary is the more accomplished player, having had a stellar 2021 season where he threw for over 3400 yards and had an absurd 35 touchdowns to 5 interceptions for NC State. If Notre Dame knew they were getting that player, then this decision is a no brainer. However, last year Leary had a season ending injury to his pec which he is still recovering from. Leary would come to Notre Dame with one year left of eligibility.
The other option is Texas QB Hudson Card. Unlike Leary, Card does not have the numbers that Leary does. However, Card is younger, has 3 years of eligibility and was the number 2 dual threat QB in the country coming out of high school according to 247 sports. With Card, you have a quarterback with a lower floor but higher ceiling. Although he does not have many games under his belt, we saw what he did against Alabama when he had to come in for an injured Quinn Ewers. The biggest stage, unexpected, and he stepped up and played a pretty impressive game.
With that being said, I would like to say that I would HAPPILY take either of these two in the portal. But if I have to pick between the two, I would choose Hudson Card. Go Irish!
Photo Credit - The Washington Post
☘️ Michael Blough - Writer
If I could have the choice of any transfer portal QB, it would have to be Brennan Armstrong. While this is most likely not a popular pick among Irish faithful, I think he has the best fit inside of a Tommy Rees led Irish Offense. Armstrong certainly took a turn for the worse in 2022, but the sheer talent is there. In 2021, he led the ACC in passing yards and total yards and showed off his strong arm and better-than-average accuracy. Regardless, the most important thing to me is his experience. After a 2022 campaign where the Irish lost their starter and had to turn to back-up Drew Pyne, the offense could use an experienced QB to challenge/win the job. In just 2021, Jack Coan came in as a grad transfer and by midseason was playing the best ball of his career. I think Armstrong can come into Notre Dame and have the same effect, but with an even higher ceiling.
Photo Credit - Pro Football Network
☘️ Murray O’Connell - Writer
And with the first pick of the transfer quarterback draft… there has been a trade! Notre Dame will trade down in the draft with the Kansas Jayhawks. The Irish will send their first pick in this year’s draft along with Mitch Evans and the much heralded Mitchapalooza offensive attack to the Jayhawks in exchange for the Jayhawks’ third pick in this year’s draft, as well as a player to be named later from the basketball team for Coach Mike Brey. With the third pick in the draft, the Irish select… Devin Leary, quarterback, NC State. There are plenty of big names out there from Hudson Card of Texas to Grayson McCall from Coastal Carolina. However, with Pyne leaving there is a serious lack of experience in the quarterback room and I believe Freeman and Company will want a veteran that has seen some action. Although his season was cut short due to injury, Leary has seen plenty of playing time since his freshman year throwing for nearly 7,000 yards and 62 touchdowns. He has played many of the same ACC teams that will be on Notre Dame’s schedule next year and has demonstrated the ability to escape if his pocket breaks down. Although there are some questions about his arm strength, he has proven the ability to be able to work a ball around the field to multiple receivers. His experience will help him challenge Buchner for the starting job next year.
Photo Credit - CBS sports
☘️ Liam Gaudet - Editor
Hudson Card
Card may not be as mobile as Devin Leary, but he possesses the arm talent to push the ball down the field with poise and accuracy. Additionally, there are less concerns with durability, and Card has shown that he can improvise when called upon. This is a quarterback with a different skill set than that of Tyler Buchner, and I think the variation in skills will provide for an interesting competition in the QB room.
Photo Credit - The Draft Wire USA today
☘️ Luciano Antonini - Founder of The Irish Tribune
If I were to choose which QB in the portal Notre Dame should take, it’s Devin Leary out of NC State. Leary is in my opinion, the most backed up QB in the portal outside of maybe Spencer Sanders. Leary had an incredible season in 2021 and most likely would’ve been pretty good in 2022 before exiting with a season ending injury. Leary has 3 different 1,000+ yard seasons under his belt and is one of the best pocket QB’s in all of CFB. And with him being a junior, we could potentially get 2 years out of him, a perfect bridge to the Minchey/Carr eras.
Photo Credit - On3
☘️ My Pick (Nick Kremer)
My favorite quarterback, Sam Hartman, has not entered the transfer portal (yet?), but I will choose between the quarterbacks that have officially entered the portal. Out of those prospects, I really liked the films of Leary, Armstrong, and Card, but there is one prospect that will be the best fit for Tommy Rees. Spencer Sanders would be a perfect fit for Tommy Rees and the Notre Dame offense due to his extensive experience as a starting quarterback at Oklahoma State. Sanders was a four-year starter for the Cowboys, completing 61% of his passes for 9,953 yards and 67 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns. Sanders continuously showed his ability to be a dual-threat guy while looking to pass first. He consistently showed his arm strength and accuracy as a passer while also showcasing his athleticism and ability to extend plays on the ground. Sanders was a key leader for Oklahoma State and received first-team all Big 12 honors in 2021. His experience as a starter and his impressive skills as a dual-threat quarterback make him a valuable asset for Tommy Rees and the Notre Dame offense.
Photo Credit - UHND
☘️ No matter who Notre Dame ultimately decides to bring in as their transfer quarterback, it is clear that they will need strong leadership and play-making ability at the position in order to compete for a national championship. We are confident that any of the above options would be a valuable addition to the team and we look forward to seeing who will take the reins for the Fighting Irish next season. Who would you pick if you were on the clock?
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