Head coach Brian Kelly has named graduate student transfer Jack Coan as the Irish starting quarterback ahead of the upcoming 2021 season.
Kelly discussed the reason for going with Coan as the starter instead of sophomore Drew Pyne and freshman Tyler Buchner.
“All three quarterbacks distinguished themselves in the spring and preseason camp,” Kelly tweeted Saturday afternoon. “Clearly, each has the skills necessary to lead, but Jack Coan proved to be more consistent and therefore, going into our opener, gives us the best chance for success.”
Coan has plenty of experience as a starter, which may prove beneficial for the Irish in their season opener in Tallahassee against Florida State. During his career with Wisconsin, Coan completed 68% of his passes for 3,278 yards and 23 touchdowns.
In 2019, Coan set a single season school record at Wisconsin by completing 236 passes. Coan started all 14 games for the Badgers in 2019 and led his team to a Rose Bowl berth.
Coan did not play in the shortened 2020 season after suffering a foot injury in a preseason practice. The Badgers started then-freshman Graham Mertz the entire season, prompting Coan to transfer to Notre Dame in the offseason. Coan will likely get a chance to redeem himself against his former team later this season when the Irish take on the Badgers at Soldier Field on September 25.
