Notre Dame Football 2012: How Irish Would Fare with Gunner Kiel as QB

With Notre Dame in the midst of yet another heated quarterback controversy, I will be conducting a four-part series on how the 2012 season would turn out with each of the four quarterbacks on the roster as the starter. 

In the running for starting duties are junior-to-be Tommy Rees, junior-to-be Andrew Hendrix, sophomore Everett Golson and true freshman Gunner Kiel. 

In Part 3 of this four-part series, I will be featuring Gunner Kiel.

Perhaps the most intriguing candidate in this controversial quarterback derby, Gunner Kiel does not lack the credentials or star power to win the job.

Kiel was rated as a 5-star prospect in the 2012 recruiting class, per Rivals.com. The 5-star billing also earned Kiel the honor of being the top-ranked quarterback in the class.

The Columbus, Ind. native had a whirlwind of a recruitment that began with a verbal commitment to Indiana. In October of last year, Kiel backed off of his pledge to Indiana and re-opened his recruitment, eventually settling on the LSU Tigers. However, Kiel decided that Baton Rouge was too far from home, and chose Notre Dame instead.

Kiel's desire to enroll early at the school of his choice played a major role in the drama of his recruitment, but may also be a blessing.

So now, the nephew of former Notre Dame quarterback Blair Kiel finds himself in a four-man race to earn the starting quarterback job in South Bend.

It has been widely expected that Kiel will spend his freshman season on the sidelines to preserve a season of eligibility (I dare not say redshirt). While that's a likely scenario, something tells me Kiel is on an equal playing field with his competition for the job.

At 6'4" and 220 pounds, Kiel possesses size that neither of his three competitors have. And while his arm strength is not considered elite, it's just as strong, if not stronger, than Rees, Hendrix and Golson.

Clearly Kiel has all of the necessary physical tools to win the job, but it's the mental side of the equation where the true freshman will struggle, and understandably so. No one knows if Kiel will grasp the playbook quickly, but if he does, don't be surprised to see him right in the heat of the battle for starting duties.

Purely for hypothetical purposes, let's say that Kiel does, in fact, win the starting job. Will he lead the team to a satisfactory record or will the Irish regress under his command?

The answer to that question lies somewhere in between.

Despite all of his gleaming skills and accolades, Kiel would make his fair share of rookie mistakes, both on the field and in the locker room. I truly believe that the heralded freshman would turn the ball over fewer times than incumbent starter Tommy Rees, though.

Regardless, Kiel would manage games well enough to help the team earn victories over Navy, Purdue, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Miami, BYU, Wake Forest and Stanford. But like Tommy Rees in 2011, Kiel's inexperience and mistakes would flare up against elite teams such as Michigan, Oklahoma and USC.

Ultimately, Kiel's lack of experience and Brian Kelly's desire to preserve a season of his eligibility, lead me to believe Kiel will be sitting out the 2012 season.

2013 awaits, Mr. Kiel.