Previous editions in our series include:

The Kelly Era Running Backs

The Kelly Era Tight Ends

2012 Gunner Kiel #25-ranked player overall : The nation’s No. 1 ranked pro-style quarterback recruit redshirted as a freshman in 2012 then transferred to Cincinnati prior to the 2013 season. Completed 60% of his passes for more than 6,800 yards with 56 touchdowns against 26 interceptions in three seasons with the Bearcats. Kiel lost his starting job entering his final season in the Queen City.

: The nation’s No. 1 ranked pro-style quarterback recruit redshirted as a freshman in 2012 then transferred to Cincinnati prior to the 2013 season. Completed 60% of his passes for more than 6,800 yards with 56 touchdowns against 26 interceptions in three seasons with the Bearcats. Kiel lost his starting job entering his final season in the Queen City. 2015 Brandon Wimbush #46 : The third-ranked dual-threat quarterback enters his senior season following a 30-touchdown, 9-turnover initial starting campaign. Wimbush accumulated 2,673 yards from scrimmage, but those sterling statistics were mitigated by a sub-50 percent completion percentage.

: The third-ranked dual-threat quarterback enters his senior season following a 30-touchdown, 9-turnover initial starting campaign. Wimbush accumulated 2,673 yards from scrimmage, but those sterling statistics were mitigated by a sub-50 percent completion percentage. 2018 Phil Jurkovec #83 overall : #3 dual-threat quarterback among incoming freshmen, Jurkovec is expected to make his field debut this fall, aided greatly by the NCAA’s new redshirt rule that affords a player four games played at any point during the season.

: #3 dual-threat quarterback among incoming freshmen, Jurkovec is expected to make his field debut this fall, aided greatly by the NCAA’s new redshirt rule that affords a player four games played at any point during the season. 2020 Drew Pyne #115 : #6 pro-style quarterback will hit campus when Wimbush is gone and Ian Book (below) either is as well or is involved as a fifth-year senior.

: #6 pro-style quarterback will hit campus when Wimbush is gone and (below) either is as well or is involved as a fifth-year senior. 2013 Malik Zaire #162 : Another third-ranked dual threat (Wimbush, Jurkovec), Zaire starred then stumbled at Notre Dame before transferring to Florida as a graduate student. A broken ankle in Week 2 of the 2015 season marked the official end of the dynamic phase of Zaire’s playing days in the college game.

: Another third-ranked dual threat (Wimbush, Jurkovec), Zaire starred then stumbled at Notre Dame before transferring to Florida as a graduate student. A broken ankle in Week 2 of the 2015 season marked the official end of the dynamic phase of Zaire’s playing days in the college game. 2014 DeShone Kizer #242 : The 14th-ranked pro-style quarterback from his class, Kizer is the only Kelly Era quarterback to be drafted into the NFL (second round, Cleveland Browns). Kizer concluded his career with more than 6,800 passing yards and 65 total touchdowns (vs. 24 turnovers) in 25 games played for the Irish.

: The 14th-ranked pro-style quarterback from his class, Kizer is the only Kelly Era quarterback to be drafted into the NFL (second round, Cleveland Browns). Kizer concluded his career with more than 6,800 passing yards and 65 total touchdowns (vs. 24 turnovers) in 25 games played for the Irish. 2017 Avery Davis #246 : The eighth-ranked dual threat from last season’s cycle, Davis has moved to running back/slot receiver. He’s expected to debut for offensive coordinator Chip Long’s attack against Michigan on Sept. 1.

: The eighth-ranked dual threat from last season’s cycle, Davis has moved to running back/slot receiver. He’s expected to debut for offensive coordinator Chip Long’s attack against Michigan on Sept. 1. 2011 Everett Golson #267 : Golson was the fifth-ranked pro-style triggerman in his class, Kelly’s first full recruiting haul in South Bend. After beginning his career 16-1 as a starter, Golson scuffled along with the Irish (offense, defense, and special teams), ending his career with a 17-6 record, transferring to Florida State for his graduate season. Golson produced more than 6,400 yards of total offense in what amounted to two seasons as the team’s starter, piling up 45 touchdowns against 32 total turnovers.

: Golson was the fifth-ranked pro-style triggerman in his class, Kelly’s first full recruiting haul in South Bend. After beginning his career 16-1 as a starter, Golson scuffled along with the Irish (offense, defense, and special teams), ending his career with a 17-6 record, transferring to Florida State for his graduate season. Golson produced more than 6,400 yards of total offense in what amounted to two seasons as the team’s starter, piling up 45 touchdowns against 32 total turnovers. 2010 Andrew Hendrix #284 – No. 11 pro-style signal-caller committed to Charlie Weis and remained in the class when Kelly took over. Hendrix never started at Notre Dame but later starred at Miami, Ohio as a graduate transfer.

– No. 11 pro-style signal-caller committed to and remained in the class when Kelly took over. Hendrix never started at Notre Dame but later starred at Miami, Ohio as a graduate transfer. 2010 Tommy Rees #421 – Hit campus ahead of Andrew Hendrix as an early enrollee for Brian Kelly’s first Irish squad and never looked back, starting 31 games (23-8) and passing for 61 touchdowns vs. 37 picks. Only Brady Quinn (29-17) won more games for the program as the offense’s triggerman in the new millennium.

– Hit campus ahead of as an early enrollee for Brian Kelly’s first Irish squad and never looked back, starting 31 games (23-8) and passing for 61 touchdowns vs. 37 picks. Only (29-17) won more games for the program as the offense’s triggerman in the new millennium. 2016 Ian Book #527 : No. 20 Pro-style quarterback has won a game both as a starter (at North Carolina) and in reserve (LSU) entering his junior season. Book totaled 662 yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns and four interceptions last season, completing 61 percent of his passes.

: No. 20 Pro-style quarterback has won a game both as a starter (at North Carolina) and in reserve (LSU) entering his junior season. Book totaled 662 yards from scrimmage with four touchdowns and four interceptions last season, completing 61 percent of his passes. 2019 Brendon Clark #599 : Currently ranked as the No. 22 pro-style quarterback.

: Currently ranked as the No. 22 pro-style quarterback. 2010 Luke Massa #859: Was considered the 34th-best pro style triggerman per the 24/7 composite rankings. Massa redshirted as a freshman, moved to wide receiver, tore his ACL, and later cemented a role as Kyle Brindza’s holder for the 2012-13 seasons. His absence in 2014 – directly or not – coincided with the wheels falling off the snap-hold-kick wagon, costing Notre Dame a chance at three different victories in November and putting a fourth – Stanford in October – in jeopardy.

Already Onboard

Though Rees and Hendrix committed prior to his arrival, Kelly technically inherited one Charlie Weis-era signal caller prior to his hiring date in December 2009.

2008 Dayne Crist #22-ranked player overall – The top-ranked pro-style quarterback in his class, Crist won four starts, lost five others, and was knocked from an Irish defeat early (Tulsa), tearing his patellar tendon in the process. (He previously tore his ACL in Oct. 2009).

Crist transferred to Kansas to play for Weis as a graduate student in 2012 where he, along with the program, continued to struggle. Finished his Irish career with 2,401 scrimmage yards accompanied by 20 touchdowns vs. 12 turnovers.