Marcus Freeman updates QB competition, reveals progress offense has made under Gerad Parker

One of the biggest storylines to watch in Saturday’s Blue and Gold game is the quarterback competition at Notre Dame. Last year’s Week 1 starter Tyler Buchner and Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman are battling it out to be QB1 this year, and Marcus Freeman said he’s seen some good things throughout the spring.

Freeman spoke with Peacock’s Caroline Pineda before the game to update the competition. Hartman was the biggest transfer portal addition of the year for the Fighting Irish, arriving as the No. 2-ranked transfer of the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. The ACC’s all-time leader in touchdown passes isn’t a shoo-in for the starting job, though, with Buchner still in South Bend.

Still, Freeman said the competition has been healthy throughout the spring.

“Constant improvement,” Freeman said of what he’s seen from the quarterbacks. “Those two are ultimate competitors and they’ve made each other better, and that’s been great to see. The progression of those two through 14 practices … it’s going to be exciting to see. They’re probably only going to play the first half, but it’s going to be exciting to see in this environment.”

Hartman isn’t the only new face on offense this year, though. Gerad Parker has taken over as offensive coordinator after previously serving as tight ends coach. He follows Tommy Rees, who left over the offseason to become the new offensive coordinator at Alabama under Nick Saban.

Through his first spring as Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, Parker has started to make his mark on the offense. Freeman said he’s happy with where the offense is at as spring practice culminates in Saturday’s spring game.

“I think it’s constant enhancement,” Freeman said of the offense under Parker. “‘Challenge everything’ is one of our mantras, and what you’ve seen is Coach Parker challenge everything. Our offensive staff has continued to grow together. Really liking the things I’ve seen on the offensive side of the ball.”

Hartman didn’t take long to make an impression on the first two series of the Blue and Gold game. He completed his first five passes for 91 yards and threw a touchdown to Jayden Thomas on the first series of the day. On the second series after Buchner and the Blue team went three and out, Hartman completed a 48-yard pass to Thomas and ran in a touchdown to make it a 14-0 lead for the Gold team.