Buchner-Pyne QB battle highlights Irish preseason

Coach SOUTH BEND, IND. — Marcus Freeman and offen- sive coordinator Tommy Rees are in no rush to choose Notre Dame’s starting quarterback for the season opener at Ohio State.

Still early in preseason camp, the first-year head coach is OK allowing Rees to let the competition play out between true sopho- more Tyler Buchner and redshirt sophomore Drew Pyne. Both saw playing time with Jack Coan during Notre Dame’s 11-2 season in 2021.

“I think competition really helps people grow,” Freeman said.

It did for Rees, who started for Freeman’s predecessor, Brian Kelly, as a true freshman in 2010, returned as Kelly’s quar- terbacks coach in 2017 and is now in his third season directing the Irish offense.

“We want guys that know when to make the right decision,” said the 30-year-old Rees. “It’s part of my job to make sure that they each have the opportunity to showcase what they can do.”

Coan was designated the starter early in 2021 camp and started all 13 games, throwing for 3,150 yards and 25 touchdowns. But because of Coan’s limited running skills, Rees created a package for the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Buchner, who ran for 336 yards and passed for 298 more while account- ing for six touchdowns in 10 games.

The 6-foot, 198-pound Pyne, meanwhile, saw limited action in two games, throwing for 224 yards and two touchdowns. His highlight was taking over for an injured Coan when Buchner was unavailable and leading Notre Dame past Wisconsin 41-13 in late September.The following week, Pyne could not rally the Irish in the second half of a 24-13 home loss to Cincinnati.

Buchner was the No. 1 quarterback in the spring before injuring an ankle before the Blue-Gold Game and did not play. Pyne saw action for both teams and threw for 185 yards and one touchdown, but had two interceptions in a performance Freeman said was “a little up and down.”

Rees likes what he has in both.

“There’s a certain calmness and confidence that quarterbacks have, and Tyler has that innately,” Rees said. “Drew is hungry right now — extremely hungry — and he’s competing and preparing at a high level.”

The two golfing buddies know what is expected of them.

“The most important part of playing quarterback is making good decisions,” Buchner said.

“When we’re on the field, we push each other to get better,” Pyne said.

Whichever player starts against the Buckeyes on the evening of Sept. 3 in Ohio Stadium won’t be lacking for talented help.

“We’ve got guys who can make plays for us — the obvious ones are obvious,” Rees said.

The most obvious is 6-foot-4½, 265-pound junior tight end Michael Mayer, a preseason All-American who had 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns.