Notre Dame QB2 Brandon Wimbush is currently focused on preparing for the Cotton Bowl National Semifinal against Clemson tomorrow (full game preview and prediction at this link). He’s practicing with his teammates in Dallas, preparing for the possibility to be called upon should starter Ian Book go down with injury. At the same time, he’s also put out some feelers in the transfer market.
Having already graduated and received his degree, Wimbush would immediately be eligible to play at another school next season. With Book returning for his senior year in 2019, it makes sense for Wimbush to look elsewhere in order to optimize his final season of eligibility. At the very least, he should see what options are available to him.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly agrees.
“He’s put his name into the portal for transfer, which I think he should. He should keep all of his options open,” Kelly said at Cotton Bowl Media Day today.
“He’s got his degree from Notre Dame. We’ve had a number of conversations about what that looks like. No decision has been made whether he is going to come back as a graduate student or a transfer, but he should certainly do what he’s doing and keep all of his options open.”
ND team captain and starting center Sam Mustipher also believes that in the end, Brandon Wimbush needs to do what is best for Brandon Wimbush.
“He’s a competitor. The guy knows how to play football and he wants to make plays on the football field,” said Sam Mustipher.
“For him to move on is in his best interest and I think the team has an understanding of that, and we’re not angry at him for pursuing another opportunity.”
Wimbush started the first three games this season, before getting replaced by Book in week four. When Book got slightly injured in early November, he resumed starting duties and led the Irish to a lop-sided victory over Florida State on Senior Day.
He also started 12 games last season, becoming just the third quarterback in school history with more than 1,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing in the same season.
As for where he ends up next season, if he decides to go that route, any team in need of a dual threat QB would likely welcome him with open arms. And given the ferocity of Clemson’s defensive line, his chances of playing tomorrow are substantial.
“His focus is strictly now on these games in front of us, obviously, Saturday,” Kelly added.
“And we are hopeful that that continues. That’s his focus right now, but he needs to keep his options open as well.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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