Notre Dame quarterback plans to enter transfer portal

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner intends to enter the transfer portal, according to a Tuesday article from On3. 

A former 4-star recruit out of La Jolla, Calif., Buchner initially chose Notre Dame over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, TCU, USC and Utah, among others, according to 247Sports. He played in three games last season after suffering a shoulder injury during the fourth quarter of a 26-21 loss to Marshall in Notre Dame Stadium.

Buchner finished the season with 651 passing yards and three touchdowns after he suited up for the Gator Bowl in late December. He threw a trio of touchdowns in a 45-38 win over South Carolina, countering the two thrown by former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler.

"The game we played was great. We won the game, and I couldn't be happier," Buchner said, via the Associated Press. "But for me, personally, I didn't play to the standard I wanted to play. 

"I think I accounted for two extra touchdowns they didn't want me to account for. That's not the standard I hold myself to."

Former Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman headed to Notre Dame in early January, bringing five years of experience with the Demon Deacons and just over 3,700 passing yards during the 2022 season.

With quarterback Drew Pyne transferring to Arizona State in December, Hartman will likely be able to take up the starting role for a Notre Dame team that promoted tight ends coach Gerad Parker to offensive coordinator in February. Steve Angeli, a former 4-star prospect out of Oradell, N.J., will have the opportunity to take up valuable reps behind the experienced signal caller.

Along with a four-star wide receiver transfer in Kaleb Smith and a recruiting class that ranked 12th in the country, Notre Dame should still be in good hands even with the loss of Buchner.