Notre Dame future starts with new quarterback
Jimmy Clausen tops list, but it’s uncertain if he’ll be ready for season opener.
By Pete DiPrimio
January 5, 2007
NEW ORLEANS — Let the Notre Dame quarterback quest begin.
Now that Brady Quinn is finished, along with his 36 school records and two Heisman Trophy finalist appearances, who will take over the Irish offense?
Yes, there are other questions that need to be answered — and answered well — if Notre Dame is to earn its third straight BCS appearance, but it all starts with a new quarterback.
So who are the candidates?
Let’s take a look.
First up is sophomore backup Evan Sharpley. He’s the only other quarterback to have played a down this season, but it wasn’t many. He appeared in seven games and completed 1 of 2 passes for seven yards.
That is, by the way, the same number of passes that receiver Jeff Samardzija threw.
Then there are true freshmen Demetrius Jones and Zach Frazer. Because they didn’t play, you could say they redshirted. Because this is Notre Dame, which doesn’t allow redshirting, let’s just say they are scout-team savvy.
Finally, there is super recruit Jimmy Clausen, who will enroll at Notre Dame for the second semester and thus be able to participate in spring practice. That will give the California standout a head start in positioning himself for a starting berth.
Are you intrigued yet? So is Charlie Weis.
“It will be an interesting spring,” the Irish coach said.
All signs point to Clausen as the quarterback of the future, although it’s uncertain if that future will start with Notre Dame’s Sept. 1 season opener against Georgia Tech. You’d figure Weis would want some experience at quarterback given much of the offensive line and the receiving corps will be new.
Still, Clausen did throw for 49 touchdowns for Oaks Christian High School in California this past season. He led Oaks Christian to its third straight Division III state title. In fact, he has the state records for best record as a starter (42-0) and career touchdown passes (146). He threw for 10,677 yards.
Remember, Clausen did announce his oral commitment at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend last summer after arriving in a stretch Hummer limousine. As if that wasn’t over-the-top enough, he said he planned to win four national titles with the Irish.
Yes, he’s young and brash and, perhaps, unrealistically optimistic. But then, if you want to be the Notre Dame starting quarterback, that’s better than old, insecure and negative.
Still, if Clausen isn’t ready by Sept. 1, who will be?
Look to Jones first. At 6-4 and 202 pounds, he’s mobile, athletic and strong-armed. He could provide a running element Quinn couldn’t. He is out of the dual-threat mode that has producedVince Young and Troy Smith, although we’re not saying he will become that good.
Hey, we didn’t spend THAT much time on Bourbon Street.
Anyway, the next best bet is Sharpley. Like Samardzija, he is a baseball player (he plays third base). He likely will be the most prepared to take over Weis’ cerebral system, although that might not be true by midseason.
The least likely choice is Frazer. He’s a drop-back passer, and that’s not a good thing considering the offensive line’s likely inexperience. Remember, Quinn was sacked 30 times this season with a veteran line.
So what does all this mean? Not even Weis is sure.
“I will spend a good portion of my time in the spring making sure that whoever our starting quarterback is, when we kick off against Georgia Tech, we’ll be ready to go,” he said. “I would feel very comfortable and confident to say that person will be ready to go, whoever that may be.”
Add it up, and it’s possible the defense could be the team’s strength next season, which is a scary thought given its struggles the past two years. But if safety Tom Zbikowski and defensive tackle Trevor Laws return for a fifth year, if the current freshmen continue to develop and if next year’s freshmen are as talented as advertised, well, it might not be as scary as some might think.
Yes, it might take Notre Dame a year to return to BCS status, although, after Wednesday’s debacle, that status might have been a mirage.
But after that, it could really be a lot of fun to be an Irish fan, no matter who the quarterback is.
