Korean-American University sophomore Tyler Buchner will play as a starting quarterback in the 2022 season opener against Ohio State next month, the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, announced over the weekend.
In a press conference Saturday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced that Buchner, 19, will play as the starting quarterback when the intercollegiate football team takes on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sept. 3. Buchner beat out Notre Dame junior Drew Pyne for the position.
“Drew made it extremely difficult. These guys can give us both a chance to both win,” Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman told reporters. “We just think there’s an element that Tyler brings … a dynamic element with his feet, the ability to extend plays to have a QB running game that really contributed to that decision.”
An accomplished dual-threat quarterback, Buchner is a four-star recruit from La Jolla, California and was listed as the 11th quarterback in the 2021 class in 247Sports’ composite rankings. In addition, Buchner was recently named one of the top 25 players in the College Football Playoff race by ESPN, finishing second.
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Buchner was reportedly the leader at the clubhouse during fall camp, where he put on an “outstanding” performance and “early broke away from the other quarterbacks, despite Pyne having a strong backhand.” [sic] Campaign.”
A freshman at Notre Dame, Buchner played 10 games as a backup during the 2021 season, where he had three touchdowns with three interceptions and 21 of 35 passes for 298 yards. He also rushed 46 times for 336 yards.
Though Buchner only made seven snaps against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Buchner still averaged 11.8 snaps per game in seven of his games last season, and he even posted a season-high 43 against the Virginia Tech Hokies.
The story goes on
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According to an analysis by Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Driskel, cited by USC’s StorySpace, Buchner was considered the best quarterback Notre Dame has seen in nearly 15 years. Buchner enrolled at Notre Dame in 2021 after receiving offers from other schools such as the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.
Buchner will lead the Fighting Irish as they take on Ohio State’s revamped defense, led by first-year defense coordinator Jim Knowles.
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