Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Ian Book should start for Irish in 2018
By Jacob Wilson
5. Book offers more upside than Wimbush
It’s difficult to consider a player who set numerous Notre Dame quarterback rushing records to have less upside, but Wimbush falls behind Book in terms of potential nonetheless. While Wimbush is capable of taking over a game with his legs at any given moment, college football boasts plenty of defenses that can limit him on the ground.
We saw this against Miami above all else, a game in which Wimbush was limited to a mere 24 yards on the ground. Wimbush’s inability to garner much on the ground led to numerous three and outs, keeping an already worn out Irish defense on the field for the majority of the game. While Notre Dame’s defense is good, they’re not yet capable of taking over a game on their own.
Book, on the other hand, provided a spark in that Miami game, albeit short-lived, that Wimbush simply couldn’t provide. Despite tossing an ill-advised interception to close out the second half, Book put together quite the drive, needing only six throws to tie Wimbush’s longest pass of the game.
We got our first look at Book’s raw potential in his game winning drive against LSU in the 2018 Citrus Bowl. Down three points after a converted LSU field goal, it took Book only three plays to put the Irish up 21-17, tossing a 55 yard touchdown to wide receiver Miles Boykin. While one game isn’t always indicative of success, Book’s performance had to instill confidence in his coaching staff.