College Football: Top 5 QB battles to watch during spring 2022

5. Notre Dame: Tyler Buchner vs. Drew Pyne

Notre Dame’s lack of activity in the transfer portal must mean that head coach Marcus Freeman, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, and the offensive staff have the utmost confidence in the quarterbacks on their roster. In addition to Buchner and Pyne, the Irish also have Ron Powlus III and freshman Steve Angeli on the roster.

Neither Powlus nor Angeli will figure into the QB1 battle unless there is an injury. This battle is between Buchner and Pyne.

The case for Drew Pyne

Pyne can do much of what Rees wants offensively. The Connecticut native has good touch on short to mid-range passes and has improved on throws down the field. Pyne has a superb feel in the pocket and can get away from pressure.

The case for Buchner

Unlike Pyne, Buchner has all of the tools to be great. Buchner is the better athlete and has the better arm. If Notre Dame wants a quarterback who can potentially be a playmaker, Buchner has everything you want. Buchner plays the way the modern-day quarterback plays.

Cons

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have improved significantly at every position but quarterback. Norte Dame has had four years of Pyne at quarterback when his name was Ian Book. Let’s be clear, Book led the Irish to two playoff appearances and is an all-time great at Notre Dame. However, he was a “try-hard.” That’s what Pyne is: a try-hard.

Buchner is very raw because he has not played a lot of football. Coaches don’t know what they will get game to game with a player that has not played a lot of football. Buchner lost two years of high school football; one to an ACL injury as a sophomore and another to the pandemic.

What should the Irish do?

Go with Buchner. Starting the true sophomore might result in a step-back year because of his lack of experience, but Buchner’s ceiling is higher than Pyne’s. Notre Dame needs a playmaker at quarterback, and the Helix High School product is that type of player.