Film Study: Notre Dame QB commit Ian Book
QB Ian Book, 6-1, 195; El Dorado Hills (Calif.) Oak Ridge.
The numbers: Book completed 155 of his 248 passes (63 percent) for 2,025 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games as a junior. Oak Ridge (5-5) failed to make the playoffs. As a sophomore, Book finished 204-of-340 passing (60 percent) for 2,558 yards, 30 touchdowns and five interceptions in 14 games.
The rankings: Rivals — Three stars, No. 18 pro-style quarterback. 247Sports: Three stars, No. 26 pro-style quarterback.
FILM BREAKDOWN
First impression: Book is a slightly undersized quarterback with a quick release and a fairly strong arm. His accuracy and ability to make throws on the run make him an efficient quarterback. A lack of size and elite athleticism puts a ceiling on his recruiting profile.
Strengths: Book’s touch and accuracy on his passes may be his greatest strengths. He consistently delivers the ball to areas where his wide receivers are in the best position to catch it. Book is decisive with quick throws based on pre-snap reads. When pressure comes his way, Book is comfortable moving within the pocket and rolling out of it. He keeps his head downfield to find open receivers and puts his body in a position to throw accurately while on the run. Book plays with confidence as he slings the ball across the field.
He did what? (:37) Book fires a pass down the seam in a tight window to allow his receiver to catch a pass with two defenders closing in on him … (1:06) Rolling right, Book finds a receiver streaking down the sideline with a defender on his hip. Without breaking stride, Book floats the ball into the end zone and allows the receiver to make a touchdown catch with a throw over his back shoulder. A late charging safety couldn’t make a play on the ball because of its placement … (1:14) Showing a knack for getting creative, Book shovels a pass to a running back as he avoids the pass rush … (1:20) Book’s offensive line lets him down, but he manages to step up in the pocket to throw a deep pass down the middle of the field on target.
Competition level: Book plays in the Sierra Foothill League, one of the toughest conferences in California. Folsom, which featured Washington quarterback signee Jake Browning, defeated Book’s Oak Ridge team on its way to an undefeated Division I state championship. Most teams on Oak Ridge’s schedule feature multiple FBS-level recruits.
Left to prove: Most undersized quarterbacks who tend to succeed have strong arms or excellent athleticism. Book doesn’t blow the competition away with any of those attributes. He has more to overcome because of his physical limitations. He’s able to excel at the high school level, but can he match that production in college? Book will need to be sharp in reading defenses and develop impeccable footwork to put him in a position to compete. Increasing his arm strength will be a priority in allowing him to make consistent throws down the field.
tjames@ndinsider.com | 574-235-6214 | Twitter: @TJamesNDI
