Notre Dame football: 5 bold predictions for 2020
By Nick Villano
5. Ian Book will remain one of College Football’s most underrated QBs
Ian Book is not a player that people love on the college level. He’s going into his third season as the starter and the first coming with a shot at a National Title berth. Yet, Book is currently 15th in Heisman Trophy odds, sitting behind names like Myles Brennan of LSU, Travis Etienne RB for Clemson, and Sam Howell of UNC. Book has been the man in South Bend for three years now, yet he’s sitting behind some first-year starters and the running back in Trevor Lawrence’s offense.
Book made major strides last season, seeing jumps in passing yards, touchdowns, and dropping his interceptions and sacks taken. Head coach Brian Kelly leaned on Book more last season, asking him to take 70 more passing attempts. He paid him back with 34 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions.
Book needs to do a better job of stepping up when the Irish need him. In a loss against Michigan, Book only had eight completions on 24 attempts for 73 yards. Woof.
Everything will come down to Book’s matchup with Trevor Lawrence on Nov. 7. If Book can keep up with Lawrence on the biggest stage, it would build his legacy. Right now, Book’s worst performances came in a loss that ruined last season and the National Semi-Final in 2018. He can change that narrative this season before he makes a decision on the NFL.