Spring football is here, and the Irish are wasting no time getting to work. But the biggest storyline? A heated QB battle. Well, with Riley Leonard gone, 3 contenders—Steve Angeli, CJ Carr, and Kenny Minchey—are vying for the starting job. Among them, Angeli holds the edge in experience, having played key snaps last season, including the Orange Bowl win, and even starting in the Sun Bowl 2 years ago. However, Minchey has been in the system for a while, while Carr arrived as a highly touted freshman. But now, all eyes are on South Bend as Angeli makes a strong QB admission.
At Notre Dame’s Spring Practice Press Conference on March 22, Steve Angeli didn’t hesitate when asked about his growth this spring. And his response was clear and confident. “Yeah, I think, for the most part, just being a complete quarterback. Being able to handle everything that comes with it – leadership, extending plays, making all throws on the field, just overall growth is what I’m looking for.” So, Angeli knows the competition is fierce, but he’s locked in on taking his game to the next level.
However, in last year’s Orange Bowl, backup QB Steve Angeli stepped in and delivered, completing 6-of-7 passes for 44 yards on a crucial drive that set up a field goal before halftime. Given that, when asked about the confidence boost from his Orange Bowl performance, Angeli stayed grounded. And his mindset? Confidence has never been an issue. “I already had confidence before that moment. It’s great to go out on a stage and perform like that, but I was already confident before that and, yeah, it fuels a little bit, but, I’m just looking forward to compete,” said Angeli. Honestly, with a fierce QB battle ahead, he’s ready to prove himself once again.
But the questions kept coming, and when asked about witnessing a QB battle as a freshman, Angeli’s takeaway was clear—competition fuels growth. “Yeah, the biggest thing is competition brings the best out of people, and it really just makes everyone better. You know, competition is a good thing. The world is meant to be competitive.” remarked the standout QB. Talk about a sportsman spirit! Although as of now, there’s another battle ahead, and he’s embracing the challenge.
So, the big question: What does Steve Angeli see as his biggest strengths? But without hesitation, he laid it out, saying, “I think my leadership. I think my approach to the game, my mental intangibles. I think those are one of my strengths or some of my strengths. And I can make every throw on the field, extend plays, uh, pick up first downs, and, you know, lead an offense.”
Right now, with confidence in his skill set and a mindset built for competition, Angeli is ready to make his mark. Because Coach Freeman’s spring stance on CJ Carr is now crystal clear.
Steve Angeli or one of the others—who becomes ND’s QB1?
Marcus Freeman has a tough task ahead—three quarterbacks battling for the QB1 spot. So, spring practices will be crucial in shaping the leader of Notre Dame’s offense. Here, Steve Angeli brings the only game experience, while Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr are raw but talented. Right now, with no clear frontrunner, every rep matters, and the competition is heating up.
However, according to Bryan from the Irish Breakdown, “It’s Steve Angeli I expect to start the spring as the number one; I expect Kenny to be two and CJ to be three. I think it’s going to be a seniority thing to start spring practice, and that’s how it should be when you’re going into a battle. Because if you put Kenny or CJ at number one, then you’re kind of showing your hand a little bit. So I think that’s what they’ll start off.”
While Angeli’s experience gives him the early edge, the battle is far from over. And if seniority sets the tone, he’s the natural choice to start—but nothing is set in stone.
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