New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Ian Book is gaining confidence in not only himself but the entire organization.
"I want to be able to throw every route in this playbook, but at the end of the day, a lot of routes are the same in football," Book said during his Saints Minicamp interview with local media. "There's only so many things you can do, but I just want to get really good at the ones that are the bread and butter for this organization that they run a lot. I just want to be able to throw them all and feel confident going into training camp."
Book played all four years for the Fighting Irish and became the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame school history with 30 wins. In 2020, Book was a team captain and led his squad to a 10-2 record, finishing fifth in the final Associated Press poll.
The Saints selected Book with the 133rd (fourth round) overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
"It's been a dream come true to be out here," Book said. "Just adapting, trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can…Even just this quarterback group with Jameis (Winston), Taysom (Hill) and Trevor (Siemian). I've grown up seeing all of them play before and just to be in the room with them. It's a special group of guys that are really helping me learn."
Saints quarterback Taysom Hill shared his insight and outlook on Book's Minicamp performance.
"I like him," Hill said. "I think Ian, he came in here with the right mind-set, the right approach, and he's eager to learn and eager to get on the field. Obviously, (he) played in an organization where he won a lot of football games, which is really important as you look at the legacy here in New Orleans, we've been winning a lot of football games, and we certainly don't want that to change. And that's the mind-set. So I like him, I think he does some things really well. He's got good feet, throws a good ball, all that stuff, but I think he has a really good mind-set coming in here as a rookie."
After Drew Brees officially retired March 14, 2021, the Saints quarterback position has become an open competition for the first time in 15 years.
"I'm sure he's got high expectations for the NFL," Brees said of Book in an interview at Notre Dame Day. "I think his skill set sure carries over. He's an athletic guy who can run and make plays with his legs. Obviously, he throws the ball very well so I think he's got a bright future...I think the first thing you see is just his heart, toughness, and competitive drive…I actually had the chance to watch Notre Dame play quite a bit last year. Obviously that big win versus Clemson, I tuned in for the fourth quarter and the two overtimes. To watch the team come up with some really big wins and obviously to put themselves in a position to really make a run at it toward the end, obviously, Ian Book was a huge part of that and has been his whole career."
Brees and Book effectively switched locations this offseason, as Drew accepted the job of the official color commentator for Notre Dame Football on NBC.
"He just went to Notre Dame, he's going to be broadcasting there," Book said of Brees, "so I missed him by a season there, but would love to talk to him and obviously pick his brain about everything."
During his Minicamp interview with local media, Coach Sean Payton raved about Book's competitive attitude and his desire to win at the highest level.
"We spent a lot of time with him," Payton said of the pre-draft process. "The first thing you see is he's won a lot of games. (He's a) real good competitor. We liked a lot (about him). He's played in big games, played at a high level. We felt like it was right at the right time in the draft that would be good for us, and we're glad he was there."
2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

2021 NFL draft photos of New Orleans Saints draft pick Ian Book, quarterback out of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) hands off to running back Kyren Williams (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. Book scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)


Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) runs as Syracuse defensive lineman Jonathan Kingsley (9) pursues in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)


Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) celebrates after running for a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) warms up before an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) plays against Pittsburgh during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) celebrates with offensive lineman Robert Hainsey (72) and offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer (78) after Notre Dame defeated Syracuse in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) plays against Pittsburgh during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) passes against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Friday, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) greets running back C'Bo Flemister (20) during warmup before an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book looks for a receiver during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Clemson in South Bend, Ind. Book's second-ranked Fighting Irish visit No. 25 North Carolina on Friday. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) runs the ball in the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book, right, attempts to avoid a tackle by Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) in the second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book (12) warms up before their Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) runs the ball during the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Alabama beat Notre Dame 31-14. (Cooper Neill via AP)

National Team quarterback Ian Book of Notre Dame (12) throws during the National Team practice for the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) looks on during the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. Alabama beat Notre Dame 31-14. (Cooper Neill via AP)

National Team quarterback Ian Book of Notre Dame (12) takes the snap during the National Team practice for the Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

National Team quarterback Ian Book of Notre Dame (12) throws during the NCAA Senior Bowl college football game in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

National Team quarterback Ian Book of Notre Dame (12) walks off the field after the NCAA college football Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Rusty Costanza)

Tommy Tremble, left, and Ian Book talk during Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Ian Book participates in Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Ian Book participates in Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Ian Book participates in Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Ian Book participates in Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)

Ian Book participates in Notre Dame's Pro Day workout on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Robert Franklin)