Marcus Freeman: Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner is practicing and available for Gator Bowl

Marcus Freeman has not decided on Notre Dame’s starting quarterback for the Dec. 30 Gator Bowl vs. No. 19 South Carolina in the wake of Drew Pyne’s exit to the transfer portal. He did, though, confirm the initial starter this season will be an option.

Sophomore Tyler Buchner, out since suffering a high-grade shoulder sprain Sept. 10, has returned to practice as a full participant this week and will play in the game. Freeman did not divulge if Buchner was getting full-contact work.

“He’s full-go and has practiced the past two days of practice,” Freeman said Sunday night.

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Buchner’s injury was initially considered to be season ending, with a mid-January timeline for full recovery. Freeman said that was still the expectation when asked about Buchner’s progress in late October. But when posed another question about it Nov. 17, he said Buchner had returned to portions of practice. Four days later, he said the idea of Buchner being cleared in time for the bowl game was “to be determined.”

Not only is Buchner back for it, but his chances of starting increased Friday when Pyne announced he will enter the transfer portal before the bowl game. Pyne started 10 games in place of Buchner and helped Notre Dame go 8-2. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,021 yards with 22 touchdowns and 6 interceptions this season.

Notre Dame awarded Buchner the starting job over Pyne in August after an offseason of competition, but Buchner was injured in the second game of the year. Buchner connected on 28 of 50 throws (56.0 percent) for 378 yards with 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions before the injury. He also rushed for 2 touchdowns. His previous grip on the job has not yet locked him into QB1 status for the bowl, though. Freeman said Buchner, freshman Steve Angeli and sophomore Ron Powlus III are preparing as if they would play in the game.

“All have been practicing the past two days we have practiced,” Freeman said. “You could see any of the three play. They will all be ready to play.”

Buchner’s injury elevated Angeli to the No. 2 job. He has played in two games — totaling seven snaps — and did not throw a pass in either. Powlus has not taken a snap in two years at Notre Dame and began camp as the No. 4 quarterback.

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Notre Dame knows it won’t have Pyne for the Gator Bowl and knows it will have Buchner, barring a setback. Senior cornerback Cam Hart announced his return for a fifth year Tuesday, but said he will miss the bowl game due to a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the regular-season finale at USC Nov. 26. Freeman said it will require surgery.

The Irish could also be without junior tight end Michael Mayer, senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey and graduate student guard Jarrett Patterson, three expected NFL Draft entrants who have not yet announced their plans. Freeman did not set a hard deadline for players to decide on playing in the bowl, but expects those decisions will be finalized and made public this week, perhaps as soon as Monday.

“For our guys who are deciding if they’re going to play or opt out for the NFL Draft, they understand the sooner, the better,” Freeman said. “I didn’t want them to rush into a decision. We just got done playing a 12-game season. Take a week, talk among the people they trust — their families, their coaches — and probably be ready to make a decision early this week.”

Freeman expects Monday to bring clarity on who else will join Pyne in entering the transfer portal. The first of two windows for a player to put his name in the portal opens Monday and runs through Jan. 18, 2023.