It feels like only a matter of time now. Notre Dame’s QB1 race, once a true three-horse sprint, is inching closer toward its inevitable showdown. Freshman CJ Carr and sophomore Kenny Minchey are left standing after senior Steve Angeli entered the transfer portal. Trimming the field to two. All three quarterbacks showcased their stuff in the April 12 Blue-Gold Game, but it was Carr who stole the show with 170 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Yet, even with the stat line shining bright, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has refused to tip his hand just yet, leaving the intrigue to swirl into the summer months.
Marcus Freeman, ever the tactician, kept things balanced when addressing the competition this week. “Both, we believe, have the ability to be the starting quarterback,” he said of CJ Carr and Minchey, a nod to the potential he sees in both arms. Minchey has appeared in just four games over two seasons, but experience isn’t the only variable at play. According to Irish Breakdown’s insiders, the real story rests in the arm talent Carr brings to the table. “At the end of the day, with CJ, it comes down to, without a doubt, this is your best passer of the battle,” the insider said. “This is the guy that gives you the best chance to have the most efficient, explosive, and productive pass game. Ultimately, big picture, if your desire is to be a team that can really throw the ball at a high level, there’s no question that this is the quarterback that gets you.”
The insiders didn’t stop there, painting a vivid, relatable analogy. “I even think people that want Kenny to start would be willing to admit this. Most of them, like reasonable people, say, ‘Yeah, if it’s just about throwing the football, like if we’re talking about Notre Dame entering a seven-on-seven tournament, who’s the quarterback you want?’ It’s CJ,” they continued. “I’ve always said this, like who would you rather have as your quarterback in a seven-on-seven tournament, Tim Tebow or Tommy Rees? I’d rather have Tommy Rees. But once you put 11-on-11 and you put them pads on and it becomes big boy football, there’s nobody else I’d rather have than Tim Tebow.” That contrast between the pure passer and the gritty gamer is what makes Freeman’s eventual choice so layered. But in Carr, the Irish have a player who doesn’t just thrive in clean situations; he brings a consistency that has already started to separate him from the pack.
(EDITORS NOTE: caption correction) Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team onto the field before the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock echoed Marcus Freeman’s sentiment that the spring wasn’t about crowning a starter but about narrowing the field to two. “I don’t know that our goal was necessarily to name a starter at the end of the spring, as much as it was to identify, ‘OK, let’s get this to a manageable number,’ which most people would agree is two, and then allow those guys to battle,” Denbrock told ESPN. He added, “The final decision, obviously, was a very difficult one to make. Who are you going to have a hard conversation with, out of that group? Because we can win, in my opinion, with any of those guys.” Denbrock’s confidence isn’t baseless—the Irish are flush with a veteran offensive line and a WR group that both Freeman and Denbrock believe has serious depth brewing.
It’s that very infrastructure that could accelerate CJ Carr’s growth if he ultimately wins the job. Protecting a young QB with seasoned linemen and giving him options downfield is football’s version of training wheels, except Carr might not need them for long. His poise, timing, and understanding of passing concepts already drew rave reviews during spring ball, and it’s clear Notre Dame’s brass is setting the table for whoever seizes the moment, not just to survive, but to thrive.
Still, summer will be the real proving ground. The Irish want a leader who can do more than sling the rock. And some other side of the ball tales, yet to be told.
Next man up, Notre Dame leans in-depth to rebuild defensive line
Replacing stars is never easy, and Marcus Freeman isn’t pretending otherwise. Speaking to the media as spring practice winds down, the Notre Dame HC was refreshingly honest about the challenge ahead.
“Right now, we can’t just replace those guys with two guys,” Freeman said. “I believe we have five, six guys that can really go in there and perform at a high level, where we can replace their production with multiple guys. Not just with two guys, but it’s about replacing production, not the person.” In other words: it’s going to be a team effort, not a one-for-one swap.
Freeman clearly has a few names already buzzing around in his mind. “I think about guys like Donnie Hinish and how he’s continued to improve, and Gabriel Rubio and Jason Onye, and I go on and on. Jared Dawson’s been doing a good job, and Elijah Hughes and Armel Mukam and [Sean] Sevillano.” Sounds like a full platoon ready to roll.
While Freeman admits there’s no simple way to replace what Mills and Cross brought to the table, he’s banking on building a deep, versatile rotation to get the job done. If the Irish can pull it off, their defense — a consistent strength for years — should keep right on humming.
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