Notre Dame QB Commit Tyler Buchner Focused on Development, A New Hobby, & Recruiting

It's been an interesting six months for everyone across the world and that includes 2021 Helix (Calif.) quarterback Tyler Buchner‍. 

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder has been committed to Notre Dame for almost 18 months and was supposed to be starting his senior season. California delayed its high school football season until the winter, so Buchner is finding ways to stay busy at his new school after transferring from The Bishop's School. 

"I've still been practicing here at Helix," Buchner told ISD. "We basically have practice twice a week, lift, condition and I get to throw. We can't go with the defense, but it's a good place to throw with live receivers. 

"I've still been working out with my quarterback coach and lifting with a couple coaches at a couple of places. I'm also back in school now." 

The practices are limited and the focus is more on staying in sharp and developing chemistry with his receivers. 

"We can't put on pads or play," explained Buchner. "We can't even do 7-on-7. I'm throwing routes on air, lifting and running. It hasn't been a full transition. It's not really football."

The Notre Dame commit has also picked up a new hobby and some might say he's excelled quickly. 

"I've been golfing as well," said Buchner. "I picked that up as a hobby and it's a good way to go compete. When there's no sports, you have to find ways to get the competitive juices running again.

"I've been playing for about a month or so. I'd consider myself the definition of an average golfer. I'm a bogey golfer. I bogey every hole."

Is Buchner the best golfer in the house? It's up for debate as his father is finding his groove. 

"He used to be pretty good," laughed Buchner. "He hasn't been played in a while, so we're even. He's alright." 

Buchner will also have a decision to make in the coming months. The California native is on track to enroll early at Notre Dame, but with football being delayed, Buchner could also stay and play his senior year over arriving in South Bend in January. 

"I haven't necessarily made a decision," stated Buchner. "My plan this entire time has been to graduate early since I committed to Notre Dame. I'm still practicing with Helix because you really never know what's going to happen with all this COVID stuff. It all changes day by day and week by week. 

"I don't want to come out and say I'm leaving early or I'm going to stay. That might not be true in two weeks when something might happen. I don't want to have to change that decision. My plan has always been to graduate early. I'm trying to prepare for everything that may come my way." 

Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees has kept in close contact with Buchner and has started to prepare for life on campus.

"I know he's busy right now with practice and figuring everything out," Buchner said of Rees. "I know he has a bigger role on campus, but it's been more about getting me ready for when I come in—getting prepared so that I can have a chance to compete while I'm there and set me up for success." 

Buchner knows there will be a steep learning curve once he arrives at Notre Dame and other aspects of life will also be different, which he got a taste of this summer. 

The four-star quarterback competed at the Elite 11 and dealt with some criticism, but Buchner took it in stride. In fact, Buchner knew he had to make some adjustments and did just that following the competition.

"I took a week off of throwing and then I did a week of basically starting over," Buchner explained. "I was just in a bad spot. I started from the basics - footwork and moved up. 

"I've been throwing the best I've ever thrown in my life the past couple of weeks. I'm in a really good spot right now and I feel I'm in a really good spot." 

The negative attention was something new for Buchner as he drew rave reviews last fall. No player wants to go through it, but Buchner made the best of it and knows it's just the start as the quarterback position at Notre Dame scrutinized. 

"It's expected and part of the role," Buchner said. "I embrace it. It's something I knew was always coming and people always told me that it happens. I definitely read it and see it, so it's interesting and it's something I have to get used to. 

"It was new and I'm sure it won't stop. Everyone gets it." 

Picking up golf, developing his own game and going to class isn't the only thing Buchner has been focused on in recent weeks. 

Buchner has his eyes on closing the recruiting class off with a bang and it starts with the receiver position. 

"I was talking to Deion (Colzie) and Donte (Thornton)," said Buchner. "A lot of schools they are coming down to are Notre Dame, some SEC schools and I know Donte is big with Oregon and Arizona State. You can choose to play football at a school or choose to do both - academics and football at a place like Notre Dame.

"I feel like that's where we have the upper hand. I think we have the upper hand football-wise, but academically and outside of football, we win by a lot. That's a winning message. I know all the guys in our class have really got behind that and understand the benefits Notre Dame has off the field. It's just relaying that message to recruits. The guys that get it and understand it will be the guys that come."