Notre Dame Football: 5 impactful newcomers for the Irish

1. Tyler Buchner, quarterback: 

Buchner has as much pressure as any new quarterback in the country. According to scouts, the Helix High School product is the real deal. Notre Dame football fans feel that Buchner is the type of quarterback the Irish need to become a national championship contender, not just a team that can get to the playoff.

Buchner pushes Jack Coan to start in the fall but could fall short because he is an unrefined prospect. Buchner tore his ACL his sophomore year in high school but returned and had an outstanding junior season. There was no football in California last season because of COVID.

Buchner is as dynamic with his legs as he is with his arm. The La Jolla, California native, is an elite athlete and the best high school quarterback prospect in the Brian Kelly era. From DeShaun Watson to Tua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrence, having a difference-maker at quarterback is paramount.

In Buchner, the Irish get a player who can extend plays when the pocket breaks down and maintains velocity on the football throwing in the run. However, he is still raw as a pocket passer and needs to improve going throw progressions. That could keep him on the bench this fall in favor of Coan.

However, if the Irish need some juice, or if Buchner continues to improve over the summer into the fall, he could claim the job before the season is over.