Notre Dame's Quarterback Depth Chart Suddenly Looks Loaded

Notre Dame has seen its quarterback room go through quite the overhaul over the last year, and as the Irish get deeper and deeper into the 2023 offseason the position is poised to become a major strength.

The changes are top to bottom, as the depth chart has been dramatically overhauled, and there will be new leadership at the position as well. Over the past three seasons, the position coach was Tommy Rees, who was also the offensive coordinator. With Gerad Parker taking over as the offensive coordinator and Notre Dame bringing in Gino Guidugli, the quarterbacks will now have a coach whose only focus is them.

What has changed the position's prospects, however, are the talent and depth overhauls we've seen in recent months. A year ago, then sophomore Tyler Buchner was the expected starter, but the depth chart behind him was troubling. Drew Pyne was a very good backup quarterback, but his talent limitations made him an ideal No. 2, but not someone that should be a primary starter.

We saw that play out last season after Buchner was lost to injury. Pyne played well early, but defenses quickly caught up to Pyne and the offense was extremely limited over the second half of the season. As soon as Buchner returned to the lineup, the slow grinding offense was opened up and the Irish racked up 45 points and 558 yards in a Gator Bowl victory over South Carolina.

There's no doubt that Buchner, as he gains more experience, would have a chance to be an outstanding player for Notre Dame. The concern, however, is Buchner's checked injury history. Notre Dame was forced to go into the portal to get an experienced starting caliber player, and they hit a grand slam home run when former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman decided to transfer in.

Notre Dame's roster overhaul at quarterback actually began in June, when five-star CJ Carr committed to the Irish. He won't show up until the 2024 season, but Notre Dame landed talented Tennessee quarterback Kenny Minchey in November, and he's already on the roster.

Getting Hartman and Minchey onto the roster, and with Buchner and Steve Angeli now having another season under their belts, Notre Dame's quarterback room went from a major question mark, one built around the need for Buchner to stay healthy, to a group that is among the best in college football.

In Hartman, Notre Dame has one of the best returning quarterbacks in the country. Hartman threw for 7,929 yards and accounted for 89 touchdowns the last two seasons while leading Wake Forest to 19 wins over the last two seasons. It's the program's second best ever two-year stretch in history.

In Buchner, Notre Dame has a dynamic dual threat quarterback that showed in the Gator Bowl the potential he has. Buchner is still a work in progress, but if he can learn from Hartman for a season and build on what he showed in the bowl game he has a chance to be one of the best signal callers in college football in time.

The addition of Hartman also takes pressure off Buchner, who literally held the offense's hopes in his hands last season. If he didn't play well, or got injured, the offense was going to struggle to reach its potential. With Hartman and Buchner both on the roster the odds of Notre Dame's offense taking a huge jump in 2023 rise dramatically.

Angeli is unlikely to be a starting caliber quarterback in 2023, but he's a big-bodied kid with guts and a solid arm. Now he isn't the backup, he's the third-team quarterback and has an additional year to learn and develop before he has to be put in a position to get on the field in a starting role.

Minchey is a gifted signal caller that might need some time to develop, but his high football IQ, accuracy, playmaking ability and arm talent are a huge addition to the depth chart. If he had to play in 2023 there is no doubt he has the talent to lead the offense.

Carr is an elite talent that will certainly shake things up when he arrives in 2024.

Notre Dame all of a sudden has an outstanding quarterback room that should be among the best in college football this season and beyond. It's quite a turnaround, and one that has the Irish in position to make a big jump on offense, one that should begin immediately in 2023.

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