Notre Dame expects Kiel to compete for top job

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (MCT) — Gunner Kiel will wear No. 1 at Notre Dame. Apparently a bull’s-eye wasn’t available.

“People are blowing it out of proportion, like No. 1 is a huge deal,” Kiel told Notre Dame’s website. “I just got it because I like the number. I’m fine with No. 99, if I would have gotten it.”

It’s now a question of how fast Kiel, who was not made available to the media Wednesday, will get snaps on Saturdays. The five-star quarterback and Rivals.com’s No. 20 recruit nationally is the gem of Notre Dame’s class, and Irish coach Brian Kelly foresees Kiel competing immediately.

“I don’t think we set the bar different for Gunner Kiel than we do for any of our other freshmen as it relates to competing,” Kelly said Wednesday. “If you think you’re going to get a free year, you need to go somewhere else. Come to Notre Dame if you want to compete.”

Kelly expects Kiel’s comfort with a spread offense to help, saying Kiel is “confident that he could come in and run our offense.”

“I’m just going to do whatever I can to make the team better,” Kiel told the school’s website. “If that’s running the scout team, so be it. I just want to be a part of the team and be a part of the family and do my part.”