On Jan. 20, head coach Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame played the final game of their magical 2024-25 season against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Mercedez-Benz Stadium. Quarterback Riley Leonard took just about every snap for that offense. Tight end Mitchell Evans served as his most reliable target, and did the same for multiple quarterbacks before him. Linebacker Jack Kiser stood in the center of one of the nation’s best defensive units. Defensive linemen Howard Cross III shared leadership duties on the front lines while safety Xavier Watts did the same a few strides behind him. Captains defensive linemen Rylie Mills and corner back Benjamin Morrison watched their final game at Notre Dame from the bench, their presence still felt from the sidelines. Between those players who spearheaded the veteran Irish group of last season, leadership came in droves.
Just over two months later, as Notre Dame football takes to the turf inside the Irish Athletics Center for their first spring practice, it is among the biggest questions to answer for Freeman and his staff. Last year’s core is gone, and a program record 14 wins are wiped off the board. It’s time to start over.
With that said, the notion that a team many predict will win 10-plus games and return to the College Football Playoff (CFP) is “rebuilding” would seem a tad reductive. But considering the turnover on both sides of the ball for this Irish squad, it is a fitting description. They do have answers to many of their personnel questions, answers they found through the transfer portal. Additions of Jared Dawson (Louisville) and Elijah Hughes (USC) may not replace the production of Mills and Cross, but they will join Jason Onye, Gabe Rubio and Donovan Hinish to form a solid rotation up front. Jalen Stroman (Virginia Tech) will slot in for Watts at safety alongside sophomore star Adon Shuler. Cornerback DeVonta Smith may be the most capable newcomer, joining from Alabama where he started every game in the slot for the Crimson Tide. Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) come in as day-one starters in the wide receiver corps and Ty Washington (Arkansas) profiles as a reliable blocking tight end. Noah Burnette (North Carolina) rounds out the group as yet another plug-and-play starting kicker acquired in the portal for the Irish. One question remains unanswered, however, and it is the biggest of the bunch: who will play quarterback for this team?
Unsurprisingly, Freeman has been questioned by several media personnel in post-practice press conferences about the quarterback competition, which he describes as a true three-man battle.
“They are all going to get reps with the ones,” Freeman explained. “At the end of the day, when one clearly shows that he’s the best person to lead our offense, then he’ll be named the starter.”
Senior quarterback Steve Angeli has the leg up in terms of experience, leading Notre Dame to a 40-8 Sun Bowl victory in his first start, and stepping in for an injured Riley Leonard to orchestrate a pivotal field-goal drive before halftime against Penn State in the CFP semifinal. Sophomore CJ Carr and junior Kenny Minchey are right there with him from a talent standpoint. Carr likely possesses the best arm in the group, while the playmaking ability of Minchey’s legs stands out among the three. As spring practice has progressed, the staff has expressed praise to all three for their improvement and maturity throughout the competition.
“All three of the guys are playing very consistently, they’re making good decisions with the ball, they’ve got a good understanding of our offense,” Denbrock said. When asked about the final decision, Denbrock admitted, “At this point, I would tell you it’s going to be incredibly difficult.”
While it may disappoint many eager fans and media members, the chances of a starter being named this spring are minimal. Beyond that, the man taking snaps in week one is far from guaranteed to be taking them in November. The Irish go on the road to face preseason No. 14 Miami in their first game before returning to South Bend for a rematch of last year’s opener with Texas A&M. Throwing either Carr or Minchey into the fire for those games may not be in Freeman’s best interest, regardless of who gains the edge in practice. Angeli’s experience is appealing. He’s performed on the biggest stage. He is the closest in the room to a known quantity. Could he take what ESPN’s Greg McElroy, who called every game of Notre Dame’s playoff run, a “Joe Burrow-type leap?” Ignoring the hyperbolic nature of claims made in April, one could be convinced that Angeli has it in him to thrive as a starter. His command of the offense and standing in the locker room is unquestionable. His commitment to the program is undeniable, staying for two consecutive seasons as the Irish back-up, a rarity in this new age of college football with the transfer portal. When asked about earning the starting role this season, Angeli responded definitively.
“It would be everything,” he said.
I just don’t quite see it. Angeli is the safe option, but nothing more. He is serviceable, and serviceable is not good enough to win a national championship. Jack Coan was serviceable. Drew Pyne was serviceable. Tommy Rees was serviceable. Rees and Pyne led solid nine-win seasons culminating in bowl game wins against Rutgers and South Carolina. Coan managed 11 wins as the starter, leaving the Irish one spot out of the playoff in a New Years Six matchup with Oklahoma State, a game they narrowly lost after the abrupt departure of former head coach Brian Kelly. Even Ian Book, the most winningest quarterback in Notre Dame’s storied history, was a bit too limited to take the Irish into the upper echelon of legitimate contenders. His two playoff appearances, in 2018 and 2020, ended in embarrassing losses, games that were over before they even started. The common thread across the title-winning teams of past seasons in college football is a quarterback who elevates the offense.
That could be Carr. Grandson of all-time great Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, I’m not concerned about his leadership or ability to rise to the moment. He has had a year to develop and integrate himself into the Mike Denbrock offense, and according to the entire staff, has more than proven his capability to operate in it. The flashes he has shown are tantalizing — from dropping one in the bucket for sophomore Micah Gilbert in last year’s Blue and Gold game to ending last Saturday’s open practice scrimmage on a 25-yard connection to freshman Elijah Burress with pressure bearing down. Yes, it’s just practice. But these are the kind of throws Notre Dame needs, throws they have not seen in a long time. Carr can make them better than anyone in the room.
With all due respect to Minchey, I see this as a two-man race, one that will set the ceiling for this Irish team in 2025-26. Ride with Angeli and that ceiling is limited. Ride with Carr, even through the potential ups and downs, and the sky’s the limit.
