Brandon Wimbush Focused On Consistency
It’s year two of the Brandon Wimbush era at Notre Dame and the 6-foot-2, 222-pounder looked sharp on the first day of practice.
“It felt good,” stated Wimbush. “It felt like the first day. Getting back out here and putting on a helmet and going about 80-90 percent.”
The New Jersey native was impressive at times last fall as he finished with 1,870 passing yards, 804 rushing yards and 30 total touchdowns.
Wimbush admits consistency plagued him at times last year and that’s been the central area of focus heading into 2018.
“Be consistent,” Wimbush stated. “Completion percentage is a huge part and being accurate. Being decisive and taking a leadership role. Understanding the ins and outs of the offense.
“You just try to be consistent and be the same guy every day you get out on the field. That radiates throughout the rest of the team. Consistency is the biggest thing this team and offense has to focus on to be as successful as we want to be.”
Wimbush is in the unique spot of being up for national awards but also has junior quarterback Ian Book on his heels. It makes for a competitive situation, but the good news for Notre Dame is Book and Wimbush have remained close friends and both have taken freshman Phil Jurkovec under their wings.
“The outside, the media and the attention, we all got recognized for those awards, it’s all great,” Wimbush said of the preseason recognition. “The guys who did get recognized understand there is more than individual awards.
“The quarterback room is such a cohesive unit. Ian and I are going to push each other and Phil is in the mix. We team up and do a pretty good job of helping each other out.”
Leadership is another area Wimbush is focused on improving in 2018. Last fall, Wimbush held a leadership role, but it was also behind captains Mike McGlinchey, Quenton Nelson and Josh Adams.
“I’m taking a different leadership role,” explained Wimbush. “I had those seniors last year who were going to be vocal. Last year, I was more vocal when it came to the quarterbacks and the younger guys. Mike, Q and Josh had the vocal authority for the rest of the team.
“I’m trying to take that leadership role this year.”
Wimbush is a guy people naturally gravitate to but a year of experience will only help with effective leadership vocally, but also with his play speaking volumes.
“I’ve matured,” said Wimbush. “Having a year under your belt helps you immensely with confidence. Year two is an extravagant leap in terms of confidence and what my guys are going to do each play.
“Having that consistency and mindset of being the same guy I come out here is going to prove to be my biggest asset come game time.”