Kirk Herbstreit explains Notre Dame QB Ian Book's success - 247Sports

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book isn’t having quite the statistical campaign he had in 2019 now that Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet and others have departed for the NFL, but he’s perfect in the one stat that matters most: winning. The Fighting Irish have likely locked up a bid to the College Football Playoff regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s ACC championship against Clemson, as they’re undefeated with a strong portfolio of quality wins.

Book has completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,381 yards and 15 touchdowns against just two interceptions in 10 games. That’s compared to 34 touchdowns, six picks, 3,034 yards and a 60.2% completion rate last season in 13 starts.

So Book has earned an invitation to the 2021 Senior Bowl and will certainly be in an NFL training camp next year despite his lack of elite physical traits. Kirk Herbstreit gushed about Book on Friday during an appearance on the ACC Network’s Packer & Durham.

"I love the guy,” Herbstreit said. “30-3 (record). Wasn't this 5-star ... he's a great example for kids today, especially with signing day a couple of days ago, for what this is all about. The journey, the development and the growth — he committed to all of that, and now he's the winningest (starting) quarterback in Notre Dame history. That is, as Lee Corso says, is a blue liner. Underline that statement. With that school and their history, No. 12 is their winningest quarterback and he's 30-3. That's why he has that, really. He's not cocky and beating on his chest, telling people how good he his. He believes in his guys. That's the difference, really. He's always had the ability to create. From the very first time we saw him, he's always been able to scramble or find an open receiver. Now, he believes in the people around him more than ever. I think Tommy Rees, the former QB now being the offensive playcaller and OC, I think they're perfect together."

Herbstreit thinks this year's Notre Dame squad is different from those that fell flat on the big stage in previous years, and the Irish's big win over Clemson on Nov. 7 is evidence of that. It helps to have a senior quarterback, and the defense is rock-solid as well with a first-round pick at linebacker in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

That win over Clemson isn't the only game that contributes to what Herbstreit described as a different feeling. Notre Dame had little trouble on the road against North Carolina on Nov. 27 and played Georgia tough twice in recent years, as well.

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"They've gained some confidence in some close calls against good Georgia teams," Herbstreit said. "And I think they now, if you watched them, the way they played against Clemson, remember the second play of the game? They rip about a 70-yard touchdown off of Kyren Williams and it just kind felt like they set the tone to get themselves to think that, 'You know what? This is going to happen today.' And so, now they've got to go try to prove it again and both teams got a bit of a chip on their shoulder and it makes for specifically a really good football game."

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