Tyler Buchner entered 2021’s Blue/Gold game carrying all the lofty and unrealistic expectations that the Notre Dame fanbase could muster. The early enrollee hadn’t played a snap of football in two years–one due to an ACL injury, another due to a COVID-cancelled season. He carried little more than his four-star recruiting evaluation into Notre Dame stadium, yet the snaps he would take were more anticipated than the two QBs that Brain Kelly named in the battle for starting quarterback.
Jordan Johnson entered 2021’s Blue/Gold game carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. His impact on the 2020 season began and ended on the same snap against USF.