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Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was fired against quarterback Ian Book following the Fighting Irish victory over North Carolina on Friday.
Kelly called out an article from a national newspaper that didn’t include Book as one of the top 10 QBs in the country.
“They listed the top 10 quarterbacks in college football and they didn’t even list Ian,” Kelly said in his post-game press conference. “So he has some fuel, he also has a little chip on his shoulder. He won the match [Friday]. “
The pound was excellent against the Tar Heels again as Notre Dame improved to 9-0 in 2020. His stat line was not as good as some of the other QBs in the country – Pound was 23 of 33 assists for 279 yards and touchdown while rushing for 48 yards – but he produced the most memorable play of the weekend with his backhand backhand to TE Michael Mayer.
It is no coincidence that Notre Dame emerged as a serious threat to the national title as Book’s game improved in 2020. After failing to throw 200 yards in two of Notre Dame’s first four games, Book threw over 275 meters. in four of the last five Irish. And he’s thrown at least one TD pass in five straight games.
He’s also a serious threat to hurt opposing defenses on the pitch. Book rushed for 412 yards in 2020 and ran at least 40 yards in each of Notre Dame’s last seven games.
Will Book win the Heisman? Probably not. His stats aren’t mind blowing like Kyle Trask, Trevor Lawrence or even Mac Jones. But think of it as the 2020 version of what AJ McCarron was like in 2013.
Over 20 quarterbacks threw more yards than McCarron in his senior season, 14 had more touchdowns, 11 had better completion percentage and 10 averaged more yards per attempt. But McCarron finished second in the Heisman vote that season because he was a very good quarterback on a fantasy football team.
That’s why it won’t be a surprise if Book is a Heisman finalist. Especially if Notre Dame beats Clemson in the ACC Championship game.
1. Kyle Trask, QB, Florida (LW: 1)
Trask did absolutely nothing to hamper his Heisman hopes in an easy win over Kentucky on Saturday. Trask had 21 of 27 passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t thrown an interception for nearly a month and has made more than 74% of his passes in each of his last three games. His Heisman chances reflect his sustained success. It is the favorite of prohibitive bets. Odds: -130
2. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson (LW: 3)
Welcome back, Trevor. Lawrence has played for the first time since testing positive for COVID-19 in a win over Pitt on Saturday. Lawrence only had the second 400-yard passing game of his career, he had 26 of 37 passes for 403 yards and two touchdowns against the Panthers. Lawrence has now thrown 19 touchdowns for just two interceptions in 2020. Odds: +800
3. Mac Jones, QB, Alabama (LW: 4)
Jones has a good chance of betting. His downside may be the talent around him on the Alabama offense, even without Jaylen Waddle. But it’s hard to argue with Jones’ performance. He had his first five touchdown game of the season against Auburn when he was 18 of 26 for 302 yards and those five scores. Odds: +200
4. Justin Fields, QB, State of Ohio (LW: 2)
Fields has historically been at a disadvantage compared to players at other conferences due to Ohio State’s eight-game regular-season schedule. And now it’s down to six games after Illinois was canceled. Assuming Fields and Ohio State play in Michigan, Michigan and Northwestern over the next three weeks, Fields has plenty of time to get back into the Heisman mix. But it’s hard to see him near the top two right now. Odds: +1400
5. Ian Book, QB, Notre Dame (LW: NR)
Like McCarron in 2013, Book is in his third season as a starter. Although he threw 34 touchdowns as a junior in 2019, he also doesn’t have wide receivers like Chase Claypool on his squad in 2020. Plus, he averages almost a yard taller per attempt at pass and complete a greater percentage of his passes in 2020 than he did a season ago. Odds: +4000
Also considered
Breece Hall, RB, State of Iowa
Hall’s 2020 100-yard streak came to a close on Friday with the Cyclones’ victory over Texas. Hall had 20 carries for 91 yards as he failed to break through all three figures for the first time this season. Hall scored a touchdown to keep his one-touchdown scoring streak alive in each of the ISU’s nine games this season.
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Ridder did not have a chance to increase his Heisman stock after Thanksgiving as Cincinnati’s game against Temple was called off. The Bearcats are out this coming weekend and will play Tulsa on December 12.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Smith caught at least two touchdown passes for the third straight game against Auburn. Smith had seven catches for 171 yards and two scores in Alabama’s victory over Auburn. Smith now has 72 catches for 1,074 yards and 12 touchdowns and also scored a rushed touchdown in 2020.
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