QB Tyler Buchner to Transfer Out of Notre Dame

QB Tyler Buchner to Transfer Out of Notre Dame

25 April, 2023

Tyler Buchner, a junior quarterback for Notre Dame, made the transfer portal announcement on Tuesday after participating in spring practice with the Fighting Irish. Before suffering a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the most of last season, Buchner was the starting quarterback for Notre Dame. Buchner did mention in his announcement that staying at Notre Dame for the 2023 campaign is a possibility.

In a tweet, Buchner stated, “I adore Notre Dame. “What makes this location unique to me are the people, especially my colleagues. I’ve made the decision to use the transfer portal so that I may consider my alternatives and choose the course that is best for my future. After speaking with coach [Marcus] Freeman, I’m glad to say that I’m still debating my decision to stay at Notre Dame. I sincerely appreciate everyone’s assistance during this process.

Last season, Buchner added 123 yards and four more touchdowns on the run in addition to 651 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions through the air. He missed the rest of the regular season due to the shoulder injury he sustained in the Week 2 defeat against Marshall. In the Gator Bowl matchup against South Carolina, Buchner started again as quarterback and led Florida State to a 45-38 victory against the Gamecocks by throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions and gaining 61 yards on the run with two rushing scores.

However, former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman’s move to South Bend made it doubtful that Buchner would start for Notre Dame this season. After the spring game, in which Buchner completed just eight of his 18 throws for 44 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, the margin appeared to increase. Freeman, though, said that Buchner and Hartman were still vying for the starting position on the depth chart following Notre Dame’s spring game earlier this month.

“I think we still have a quarterback battle,” he asserted (via 247Sports). “One exercise, practice 15, cannot be used to declare a victor or a loser. And once more, you cannot base a choice on what we perceive to be an inevitable result. There are several factors involved. Everyone will compliment Sam on his performance today while criticizing Tyler. They both most likely performed rather well. We must see the movie. Although the statistics might not support that. However, both of them have amazing skill. And we’ll review all 15 of the practices in the past and keep an eye on it going future.

It’s reasonable to presume that Hartman will start at quarterback for the Fighting Irish in 2023 given that Buchner is (for the time being) out of the running.

But where may Buchner touch down? When Buchner revealed that he was leaving the Fighting Irish for a number of reasons, all eyes shifted to Alabama. One of them is Buchner’s relationship with Tommy Rees, the first-year offensive coordinator for Alabama, who was in charge of calling the plays for Notre Dame the year before Buchner won the starting job. When Buchner was fresh out of high school, Rees was also named as his main recruiter by 247Sports.

After failing to impress during Saturday’s spring game in Tuscaloosa, Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson may be Alabama’s only options behind center moving forward. After spring practice, coach Nick Saban discussed the current status of the two leading candidates on Saturday.

For us to be able to send the ball to others who can create plays more effectively and efficiently, he stated, “I think we’ve got to work on going through progressions and develop confidence in the passing game.” (via: 247Sports).

Players may access the transfer site until Saturday, April 29.