As quarterback Riley Leonard heads to the NFL Draft April 24-26, Notre Dame fans are left wondering who will fill the 6-4 sized hole at the helm of the Irish offense. With three options to start at quarterback, senior Steve Angeli, junior Kenny Minchey and sophomore CJ Carr, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has a choice to make.
When asked about the competition, Angeli said, “Competition brings the best out of people and makes everyone better. Competition is a good thing and the world is meant to be competitive.” Irish fans will get the first live look at the competition in the 2025 edition of the Blue-Gold game on Saturday, April 12.
Angeli is the first option to take Leonard's place at quarterback. Irish fans are certainly familiar with him after his critical drive heading into halftime against Penn State in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal. He went 6-7 for 44 yards to set up a field goal and make the score 10-3 before the break. His success through the air in limited opportunities throughout the season even caused some fans to call for him to start, particularly following the NIU loss and shaky offensive performance against Miami (OH). Despite these concerns, Leonard quickly proved down the stretch of the season why his skillset and leadership was so beloved by the team, leading the Irish to a National Championship appearance. He regained confidence after recovering from lingering injuries and displayed his elite running ability alongside then-sophomore Jeremiyah Love, one of the most dangerous backs in the country, in the backfield in a way that separated the Irish offense.
Asked about his goals for the spring Angeli said, “Just being a complete quarterback, being able to handle everything that comes with it, leadership, extending plays and overall growth."
Angeli’s resume most notably displays his ability to throw the ball accurately. He was the ideal backup for the last two seasons, filling in for Leonard at critical moments in 2024 and making his first career start in the Sun Bowl in 2023. In that game, he went 15-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns in the dominant 40-8 Irish victory. In 2024, Angeli recorded an impressive backup statline in limited action, which included going 6-9 for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Purdue, 3-3 for 37 yards and a touchdown against Florida State and the drive against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Bringing big-game experience, a strong and accurate arm and leadership capability, Angeli profiles as a great option to take the starting role.
The next quarterback to be considered is junior Kenny Minchey. Rated a four-star recruit coming out of high school due to his athleticism and ability to extend plays, Minchey brings a skillset more similar to Leonard's. While not as big as Leonard, listed at 6-2 206 pounds, Minchey possesses the dual-threat ability that Mike Denbrock has found success with even before his time at Notre Dame. Minchey appeared once in 2024, recording a pair of rushes against Purdue, the second ending in a seven-yard touchdown, as well as one completed pass. While Irish fans have seen little of Minchey, he is right in the mix for the starting job in 2025-26.
When asked about his growth over the past year, Minchey said, “I definitely feel more comfortable, more in control, and closer with the guys on the team.”
Last, but far from least intriguing is sophomore C.J Carr. Carr is one of the highest-rated quarterbacks the Irish have ever recruited — a consensus four-star recruit ranked 37th overall and first in the state of Michigan by ESPN. He was highly touted for his dual-threat ability to run and throw the football. Listed at 6-3, 205 pounds, Carr is a highly mobile passer with confidence to make big throws. He was listed fourth in the depth chart in 2024 and appeared once in the game against Purdue, but suffered an elbow injury in practice during the season. Despite the setback, Carr is expected to be a full participant in the Blue-Gold game for the Irish.
When asked about his injury and recovery, Carr said, “It definitely helped me physically — the weights and arm care system. It feels better than it did last year. I can throw it better and farther now than I could before.”
In the 2024 edition of the Blue-Gold game, Carr made a multitude of impressive throws on the run, showcasing his ability to extend plays, and displayed confidence pushing the ball downfield. Irish fans may be most excited to see Carr at the helm, but the question remains: is he truly ready? While Carr could be the right choice to one day start for the Irish, he may need time and experience to develop into his full potential.
Looking to the rest of the offense, the Irish have revamped their wide receiver corps with the acquisitions of Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) in the transfer portal. Pauling eclipsed 800 yards in his 2023 campaign and Fields comes off recording two consecutive seasons of 800-plus yards and five touchdowns. With the emergence of junior Jaden Greathouse during the College Football Playoff run, putting together two consecutive games over 100 yards, the Irish have more dangerous threats returning in-house. Dual-sport athlete Jordan Faison joins Greathouse to lead the returning group of pass-catchers, the junior putting up over 300 yards in both of his first two seasons along with four touchdowns as a freshman. The Irish also bring back the dynamic running back duo of junior Jeremiyah Love and senior Jadarian Price, who rushed for a combined 2031 yards and 34 touchdowns last season. Love led the charge in the tandem, managing 1125 yards and 17 touchdowns, including a record-breaking streak of scores in 13 consecutive games. With the addition of Fields and Pauling along with expected improvement from returning talent, whoever starts at quarterback will have a plethora of options to turn to.
Fans should expect to see all three players in action on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Notre Dame Stadium.
