As the most important position on the football field, and potentially all of sports, having an elite level quarterback typically elevates a teams play. Ben Kercheval of CBS Sports ranked the collegiate signal callers into tiers, as he explained that passing numbers were the primary focus along with experience.
All of those factors led to 5 tiers, the first being All-American and Heisman contenders, the second as all-conference players and fringe Heisman contenders, third being the established starters, players primed for a breakout in the fourth tier and questions to be answered in the final tier.
Based on this criteria, it would be easy to think that Irish quarterback Ian Book probably would land into the second tier, given the decent amount of hype for the fifth-year senior. Well, Kercheval didn’t quite see it that way, as Book landed on the top of the 3rd tier. A bit disappointing where the Notre Dame star landed but it was also noted that this list could change and it just how he sees things shaking out at the moment.
The Irish will have to face many talented quarterback’s this coming season, as one of two tier 1 QB’s (Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence), one tier 2 quarterback (USC’s Kedon Slovis) and two tier 3 QB (Wisconsin’s Jack Coan and Louisville’s Micale Cunningham). Not surprising that each of those teams have very high expectations coming into the 2020 season.
We know Book is an established starter, but for the Irish to make the leap to the next level of elite football, quarterback play is paramount to getting there. Kercheval’s lists isn’t the end all of quarterback rankings, but it’s a good indication of how much potential these players possess. Book has the makings of a final go around that could be among the best in the nation. If he improves in just a few areas (completion percentage and yards per attempt), Book could have one hell of senior sendoff.