As Notre Dame approaches the 2017-2018 football season, Prep alumnus Brandon Wimbush from the Class of 2015 eyes the starting quarterback position. Brandon started on the Prep football team in both his junior and senior years and led Saint Peter’s to States in each. As a senior, Brandon won Prep its first state title since 2005 against the Paramus Catholic Paladins. He also received many prestigious awards including Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014, NJ.com Offensive Player of the Year in his senior season, and was an Under Armour All-American as a senior. Brandon was kind enough to answer a few questions for this issue and I would like to thank him for doing so. Here at the Petroc we wish him luck and success in the upcoming years.

Dillon: Your class at Prep was arguably one of the best ever from a football standpoint, sending double-digit players to D1 programs, highlighted by you, Jordan Fox, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. After leaving Prep, how have you maintained close relationships with your former teammates?

Wimbush: Prep is the epitome of what it means to be a part of a brotherhood and I was fortunate enough to gain some brothers that I’ll, without a doubt, be able to reach out to for the remainder of my life. Till this day, we have a very active group chat where we are able to speak about anything to one another and it’s the greatest thing.

Dillon: What is something you learned while at Prep that you will bring to the field next season?

Wimbush: The one thing I brought from Prep and will be able to utilize next year is the idea of being the rock on the team. I won the rock award my freshman year at Prep and I’ve thought about it ever since. It personifies the person on the team that is always dependable and everyone else can count on this person to be doing the right thing at all times.

Dillon: What have you learned from your first two years behind Malik Zaire and Deshone Kizer? How has it affected your game?

Wimbush: I’ve learned so many valuable lessons from those two guys over the past two years. I cannot speak any more highly of those two gentlemen. The main thing is that competition will arise from the blue skies, meaning that no matter what, you better be working to perfect your game.

Dillon: How has your redshirt season benefitted you, and what part of your game has changed the most as a result?

Wimbush: To answer two in one, in my opinion, my greatest improvement through my redshirt year has easily been my knowledge of the game. It’s fascinating what you can learn from watching. As a result, the entire game slows down just a bit and I am able to operate at a more efficient rate.

Dillon: As seen with Deshone Kizer’s rise to stardom, what has Notre Dame taught you about its “next man up” mentality?

Wimbush: Deshone was granted an amazing opportunity and he took full advantage of it and the next man mentality has portrayed itself in many more ways than that one alone. But if I learned one thing alone, it’s that if you prepare as if you are the starting quarterback week in and week out, your performance will be a direct result from your preparation

Dillon: With impact players such as Josh Adams, Equanimeous St. Brown, CJ Sanders, and others returning for next season, who do you think will step up into the spotlight alongside you next year?

Wimbush: We have unlimited weapons with those guys and many more on the sidelines. I think our kicking game, Tyler Newsome and Justin Yoon, will be our dark horses coming into next season and I cannot wait to see them win the close games for us next year.

Dillon: Most of the offense line, including NFL prospect Mike McGlinchey, is returning for next season. How much will this help your confidence and development as the quarterback for Notre Dame in the upcoming season?

Wimbush: They are huge for my personal confidence and success next year. No pun intended. Those five guys that I have in front of me have had their fair share of experience and, as a result, I will feel as comfortable as any quarterback in the nation next year. I’m looking forward to building my relationship with those guys through this spring season.

Dillon: During this offseason, what do you need to improve upon the most while training to start, come September 2nd against the Temple Owls?

Wimbush: We, as a unit have to improve on our discipline. We slipped up in that department last year and we saw where that got us. We’ve made some departmental changes and are looking forward to developing a new culture within the locker room which will ultimately transfer over to the little things being done correctly on the field.

Dillon: Next years’ schedule is highlighted by games against Michigan State, USC, Stanford, and many other notable opponents. What game are you most excited for and why?

Wimbush: Temple has been on my mind since the clock hit “o” against Stanford. It will be the start of something special for this program. Obviously playing Stanford will be a joy for me as I get to take on my ex-teammate in Jordan fox.