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Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons to be excited about 2019 after spring

By Connor Muldowney

EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass during the second half of a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 3, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, IL - NOVEMBER 03: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass during the second half of a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on November 3, 2018 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on in the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on in the first quarter against the Clemson Tigers during the College Football Playoff Semifinal Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

1. Ian Book looks poised to take next step

If anyone looked to take that next step this spring, it was Ian Book. The senior quarterback knew he had work to do after getting dominated in the playoff against eventual champion Clemson and he worked hard during the offseason to improve his arm strength.

Book even said during spring ball that he wants to be able to fit balls into tighter windows in 2019 and Brian Kelly likes what he’s seen from his starting quarterback, per NCAA.com.

For those rooting for Phil Jurkovec to take over, it was clear after the spring game that he wasn’t quite ready for the spotlight but another year learning under Book will be critical.

The Sporting News ranked Book the No. 7 quarterback in college football following spring ball, and those who watched him grow this spring could argue that may be slightly low.

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According to Kelly and the coaching staff, Book is improving his downfield accuracy and his back-shoulder throws. If he continues this growth, Notre Dame’s offense will be virtually impossible to slow in 2019.

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