Tyler Buchner, a single starter, joined Notre Dame as a receiver | The National Sport

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Former Alabama and Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner is returning to the Fighting Irish as a wide receiver.

Buchner, who announced his decision Friday in an open letter to Notre Dame fans, was a starter for the Fighting Irish to start the 2022 season before missing 10 games with an injury. He returned to lead the team to a Gator Bowl victory against South Carolina.

Buchner followed offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Alabama and started the third game last season against South Florida, going 5-of-14 for 34 yards. Buchner finished last season behind starter Jalen Milroe and backup Ty Simpson.

He then returned to South Bend as a lacrosse player. Buchner wrote that coach Marcus Freeman and his staff embraced his return.

“It would have been easy for the football coaches to just see me as a player who left, but instead I’m grateful that they were able to see me as a young man eager to come back and contribute in any way he could for the greater good team,” he wrote in a letter posted on the Notre Dame website.

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