Notre Dame's Jack Coan could be one of football's most impactful transfers

After Ian Book departed to the NFL as Notre Dame’s all-time winningest quarterback, the Fighting Irish must find their next starting quarterback.

Jack Coan, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, will fill that role for Notre Dame. Fox Big Noon Kickoff’s Joel Klatt believes that Coan could become one of the most impactful transfers across college football.

Coan brings success and experience to Notre Dame’s quarterback room

At Wisconsin, Coan was 12-6 in 18 starts. Coan did not play last season due to a foot injury. He did see success as the full-time starter in 2019. That year, Coan led the Big Ten with a 69.9 completion percentage. He also threw for 2,727 yards, 22 total touchdowns and five interceptions. Coan led Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl.

Joel Klatt thinks that Coan is a great fit as he steps in as Notre Dame’s next starting quarterback.

“He’s going to a program that is in the middle of one of the best runs in their history,” Klatt said of Coan. “We have seen Notre Dame now win double digit games in three straight seasons for the first time in their history. That’s a big history, a long and storied history. They’ve got to continue that success, they are a playoff-caliber team. Now Jack Coan comes in, and he just got beat out (at Wisconsin) because he got injured. He’s not having to find a new home because of poor play. He led the Big Ten in efficiency and completion percentage in his last year as a full starter.

“I think if he brings that level of play to Notre Dame, they have proven, not only with the development of the offensive line for the better part of the last decade, that if they get quality quarterback play and that person doesn’t turn the football over, that they are a team that can compete at the highest levels in college football and potentially make a playoff run. That’s why I think Jack Coan could have a massive impact on the college football year.”

Coan was named Notre Dame’s starter on Saturday

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly tweeted a message early Saturday morning naming Coan the starting quarterback. His experience has proven valuable to Kelly. Kelly noted that Coan has been the most consistent quarterback so far in camp.

“We didn’t take him because he didn’t play before,” Kelly said. “We took him because he had battle-tested experience in the Big Ten in a very good program, and quite frankly one that we respect in Wisconsin and what they do. A lot of that had to do with where he came from and him being battle tested.

Coan will likely face off in week one against another contender for college football’s most impactful transfer: Florida State’s McKenzie Milton.