NOTRE DAME, Indiana — University of Notre Dame graduate student quarterback Ian Book and senior offensive lineman Robert Hainsey have been chosen as finalists for the 2020 Senior CLASS Award. The two-time team captains join a group of 10 total finalists from across the FBS, and Notre Dame is the only institution with multiple finalists.
The award honors achievements and excellence in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The winner will be selected by a combination of votes from Division I head coaches, media members and fans. Fans can visit http://www.seniorclassaward.com/vote/ to participate.
Ian Book
Ian Book has led the Irish to a perfect 10-0 record in 2020, becoming the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history. He boasts a 30-3 (.909) record as a starter, and Book is one of just two FBS quarterbacks with a win rate above .900. He has completed 181 passes for 2,382 yards and 15 touchdowns, with just two interceptions, in 2020, and has rushed for 465 yards and eight touchdowns on the season.
Book, a rare two-time team captain, capped the longest streak of passing attempts without an interception in program history at 266 (beginning mid-Game One vs. Duke and ending mid-Game 10 vs. Syracuse), which was the longest-active streak in the FBS. With eight rushing TDs in 2020, he ranks third among all Power 5 quarterbacks in season rushing touchdowns.
The graduate student has garnered a number of national accolades this season. He has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award, and a finalist for the Pop Warner National College Football Award. Book was named Manning Award Quarterback of the Week vs. Syracuse, and has been named to the Davey O’Brien Great 8 list four times, as well as being selected to the Top 10 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Book also earned ACC Quarterback of the week following the Pitt game and Manning Award Star of the week following the Boston College game.
Robert Hainsey
Senior Robert Hainsey owns 32-career starts as part of an offensive line that has produced the second-ranked rushing attack in the ACC (235.0 yards/game).
Playing for an offense that ranks third in the ACC in total offense (474.4 yards/game), Hainsey and the Irish boast the best third-down conversion rate in the ACC at 51.8 percent, which ranks 10th in the FBS. Notre Dame boasts the second-highest first down total in the ACC (249), which ranks seventh among all FBS teams.
The Irish lead the conference (and rank sixth nationally) in time of possession, averaging 34:09 per game, more than two minutes ahead of the next ACC mark. The Irish have won the time of possession battle in nine of 10 games this season, and have controlled the ball for at least 36 minutes in three games.
Notre Dame is one of just six Power 5 teams to post three or more performances of at least 36:15 or more possession time this season.
Notre Dame’s starting offensive line boasts 153-career starts between the five veterans (Eichenberg, Banks, Patterson, Kraemer, Hainsey), the fourth-most in the FBS.
Hainsey is a rare two-time team captain, and was selected as a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. He was named ACC co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance vs. South Florida, and was selected to the Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250.