Notre Dame: Jimmy Clausen a Sophomore Stud or Sophomore Dud?

This is the first in a regular series of articles that will be posted every Friday. Next week, we’ll be discussing who we think the most underrated college football program is. No hints, but it may surprise you.

Last year, Jimmy Clausen came into Notre Dame as the top prep prospect in the country, was expected to take the reins from Brady Quinn, and lead the Fighting Irish to the promised land.

2007 was anything but a glorious season for the brother of former SEC quarterbacks Casey and Rick. He completed only 56.3 percent of his passes for 1,254 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions in nine starts as the Irish went 3-9.

While it’s funny to laugh at pictures of him looking like a bird or in somewhat compromising positions, it’s far too early to label him a bust.

While Notre Dame’s 2008 season—and potentially Charlie Weis’ job—rests partly on the sophomore’s development, there are signs that he should be much improved in his second season.

Not only did he have his best games of the season down the stretch (246 yards, 3 TD vs. Air Force, 194 yards, 3 TD vs. Duke), and led the Irish to wins in their last two games over Duke and Stanford—not the toughest competition in the world, but a win is a win—but there’s also a fine example to consider—his predecessor.

Quinn may have been one of the nation’s best quarterbacks his last two seasons, but things were pretty rough as a freshman for the now-Cleveland Browns’ QB.

In 2003, he took over starting duties from Carlyle Holliday in the fourth game of the season, and he threw only nine touchdowns and 15 interceptions as Notre Dame went 5-7. Quinn completed only 47.3 percent of his passes as the Irish offense averaged only 20 points per game.

But coach Tyrone Willingham stuck with him, and even though ND went 6-6 in 2004, after which Willingham was fired, Quinn’s numbers saw a great improvement. He upped his completion percentage to 54.1, and threw for 2,586 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions.

From there, he took the next step under Weis—and in his last two seasons, threw for 7,345 yards, 69 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

Another example is a guy who’s rated by some as the top QB prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft class (and the subject of an upcoming post), Georgia’s Matthew Stafford.

Stafford, like Clausen, enrolled into school a semester early (spring 2006), but when he hit the field in his freshman season, he struggled, completing only 52.1 percent of his passes for 1,749 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

Last season, Stafford was much improved—55.7 completion percentage, 2,523 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT.

So who’s to say that Clausen won’t make similar improvement this season?

Well, his offensive line, which didn’t protect him very well last season (34 sacks), is much better—it’s all the better for his chances for a solid sophomore campaign.

If he can be a sophomore success, it’ll be a big boost for Notre Dame and their hopes to turn around that 3-9 record.

If not, well, maybe you start calling him over-hyped and whatever else you’re inspired to—well, within reason.