Marcus Freeman: Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner likely to start Gator Bowl
It appears it’s TB12 time again for Notre Dame. Sophomore Tyler Buchner will likely start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish in the Gator Bowl, head coach Marcus Freeman told Mike Berardino of the South Bend Tribune on Monday.
“That will probably be the plan, to go with Tyler with the ones,” Freeman told Berardino. “Tyler and [freshman] Steve [Angeli] have gotten reps with the ones this week during bowl prep. But as we get down here and get closer to the game, game time on the depth chart, Tyler will be with the ones, Steve Angeli with the twos and Ron Powlus with the threes.”
Buchner beat junior Drew Pyne in an offseason competition to earn starting status going into the season opener at Ohio State. He started that matchup on Sept. 3 and the following one vs. Marshall at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept 10. He was injured in the fourth quarter of the latter, and he has not appeared in game action since.
That’ll change on Dec. 30 vs. No. 19 South Carolina (8-4) at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.
“He’s done great,” Freeman told Berardino. “He’s progressing from not playing football for so many weeks. Every day he gets better and better [with] his decision making and just getting back there and having live reps.”
Buchner had shoulder surgery on his non-throwing arm in mid-September. He has ramped up his practice activity in the last month and is set to be fully cleared for the tilt in the Sunshine state vs. an SEC foe. Pyne entering the transfer portal in early December (and ultimately committing to Arizona State this week) paved the way for Buchner to regain QB1 status before the end of the season. Angeli, the season-long backup after Buchner’s injury, will remain the backup this week.
Notre Dame lost both of Buchner’s starts. He was 10-of-18 for 177 yards in a 21-10 loss to the then-No. 2 Buckeyes and 18-of-32 for 201 yards with no touchdown passes and 2 interceptions in a 26-21 loss to Marshall. One of those INTs was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He also ran for 2 scores against the Thundering Herd.
Notre Dame’s offensive line and running game were not operating at a high level in the early going. Buchner’s play suffered as a result. He should be aided by a complementary rushing attack against a friendly rushing defense next week, but he will also be without junior tight end Michael Mayer, who declared for the NFL Draft earlier this month. Mayer finished the regular season with 101 targets. The next closest in that category on the Irish roster was sophomore wide receiver Lorenzo Styles with 46.
It’ll be interesting to see how Buchner fares in his return without Notre Dame’s top offensive weapon. Notre Dame will want to rely on the running game, but getting a nice outing from Buchner heading into the new year would be a refreshing way to jolt into an offseason, too. Bowl games: they do matter. Buchner’s situation is evidence of that.
“To have him out there getting live reps has been really good,” Freeman told Berardino.
