Buchner returning to Notre Dame football as walk-on WR

Tyler Buchner is returning to Notre Dame football after all. He'll be catching passes this time, though.

Buchner - a former Notre Dame and Alabama quarterback - announced Friday that he's rejoining the Fighting Irish football program and will walk on as a wide receiver, according to Pete Sampson of The Athletic.

The 6-foot-1, 207-pounder helped Notre Dame win a national title in men's lacrosse last week.

"Notre Dame has always been a place of faith and redemption, but I never imagined the extent of its generosity until the day coach (Marcus) Freeman allowed me to rejoin the football team as a walk-on," Buchner wrote in a statement. "Being able to play the game I have loved since I can remember and playing for Notre Dame had been my dream. I risked it all and believed I had lost it all, as I did not think even returning to football at Notre Dame would be in the cards."

Buchner began his college career as a quarterback for the Fighting Irish and spent two seasons with the school before transferring to the Crimson Tide during the 2023 offseason. He spent most of last year on the bench at Alabama and announced in December that he was entering the transfer portal as a lacrosse player. Buchner started only one game and attempted 19 passes in 2023.

"Now, as I stand on the threshold of another season, my heart swells with a fervent desire to help Notre Dame achieve the glory we all dream of - a national championship in football," he added. "I am driven by the determination to give my all, to push beyond my limits, and to be a part of something greater than myself. The journey back to Notre Dame has been one of reflection and redemption. It has taught me that home is not just a place, but a feeling of belonging, of being part of a family that stands by you, no matter where the road leads."

Buchner has two seasons of college football eligibility remaining. He's joining Notre Dame football as a walk-on because he plays another sport with the Irish, but he will count toward the school's 85-man scholarship limit if he appears in a football game, notes On3's Kyle Kelly.