Notre Dame may not name it’s starting quarterback until the leaves begin to change colors. As spring camp comes to a close, Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman says that he may until fall camp to name a starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
“The longer you can have a competition, the better, as long as it’s making each other better,” Freeman told ESPN.
“You want to keep it going as long as you can. We won’t name a starter until we believe there’s a clear-cut starter. Right now, it’s a great competition, and I can foresee this going into the fall.”
The quarterback race in South Bend, Indiana features Sam Hartman and Tyler Buchner. Buchner started the first two games of last season in South Bend, but suffered a shoulder injury that kept him away from live action for 10 games. At the end of the season, he returned to throw for 274 yards and three touchdowns against South Carolina in the Gator Bowl.
“Tyler Buchner’s not going to take a backseat to anybody,” Notre Dame Quarterbacks Coach Gino Guidugli explained to ESPN.
“He’s been the starting quarterback here. He’s done an excellent job. Obviously, he’s got a leg up on Sam in understanding the offense, and then we’re also seeing in spring ball that he understands our defense. Tyler’s a really smart kid, really competitive, and he’s super talented.”
Hartman previously played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Prior to transferring, he set ACC records for career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games. He also finished second in career passing yards with 12,967 yards in the ACC.
Hartman transferred to Notre Dame prior to the departure of former offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. He will now play under Gerald Parker, who previously worked as the team’s tight ends coach.
“You say, ‘Woe is me, this isn’t what I came for,’ and early, you say that to yourself,” he said.
“But [the new coaches] have been great. When you’ve been around the same place for five years, it’s sometimes hard to knock old habits, but it’s been a good challenge for me to really try and learn it and go on the fly and get installs in and try to master it.”
Notre Dame will start the upcoming season at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland against Navy on August 26, 2023.
