The Irish QB battle seems like a three-way deadlock with no clear escape velocity. While Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, and CJ Carr are all getting their reps this spring, no single player has yet broken away from the pack. Notre Dame finds itself in a similar QB quandary to the ones Alabama, Georgia, or Michigan are facing this offseason. You’ve got HC Marcus Freeman dissecting every snap, determined to find his guy. However, with the clock ticking, the question of who QB1 will be remains wide open.

Notre Dame’s three-man quarterback competition is intensifying with each spring practice, yet Coach Freeman seems in no hurry to name a starter. Let’s face it, replacing a talent like Riley Leonard is no small task. And with the spring transfer portal opening next week, any judgment on CJ Carr, Steve Angeli, and Kenny Minchey could easily extend into summer training camp. However, early signs suggest one of them might be edging ahead this spring. Following the Blue-Gold Game, Freeman shared his initial thoughts on the quarterbacks’ performance to the media.

“A lot of good. A lot of teaching opportunities, I’m sure. I’m not truly outcome-driven. CJ (Carr), we had one turnover. And I don’t know if it was the route (or) the throw, but it was a lot good. A lot of good from all three guys. And a lot of teaching opportunities. We’ll go back and watch.” Despite the acknowledged inconsistencies, CJ Carr’s performance did stand out, appearing much like that of a college starter, completing 14 of 19 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

But even Kenny Minchey went 6 of 14 passes for 106 yards with a rushing touchdown, and Steve Angeli went 8 of 11 for 108 yards and a touchdown. And that’s the reason Marcus Freeman thinks all three of them are making notable improvements and showcasing their best game. As Freeman explains, “It was a reflection of how the first 11 practices have been. Those guys have been battling. They’ve all improved. They’re all doing some really good things. It’s crazy to think that you got three guys that all can lead your program to a victory and be your starting quarterback. We’ll evaluate it. We’ll talk about it.” But not for today…..

Adding another layer to the intrigue, CJ Carr arrived in South Bend with a clear sense of ownership, a sentiment he seems to have earned. Being their first offensive commit for 2024, Carr established high expectations early and has consistently met them. As a key 5-star recruit in Notre Dame’s 82% blue-chip 2024 class, the QB’s leadership aided in luring other top talents, too.

Meanwhile, Steve Angeli offers a steady presence, having accumulated 268 passing yards in 11 games last season, providing reliable backup without any waves. Kenny Minchey, however, is shaking things up this spring, displaying notable composure and confidence under pressure despite limited playing time in 2024. He looks sharp, making quick decisions and showing he’s ready to contend for the starting role. Now, Coach Freeman faces a complex decision: Carr brings ownership, Angeli offers stability, and Minchey injects energy. As it stands, there’s no clear frontrunner in this quarterback clash.

Steve Angeli feels the heat of Marcus Freeman’s strategic patience

While CJ Carr’s spring game was certainly eye-catching, it’s impossible to overlook Steve Angeli’s contributions during crucial moments last season, stepping up when Riley Leonard went down with an injury. Marcus Freeman himself acknowledged Angeli’s resilience, saying, “He’s the definition of delayed gratification. Here’s a guy that has so many different opportunities to leave.”

However, Carr’s strong spring showing seems to challenge Freeman’s earlier indication of the competition narrowing to two quarterbacks by fall, potentially leaving Angeli’s presumed favor in question. As Freeman noted, “So we’ll evaluate it. We’ll talk about it and have discussions moving forward. You would like to be able to kind of go in the fall with a two-quarterback battle. It’s really hard to truly have a three-quarterback battle.”

For now, Freeman is emphasizing a deliberate approach. “But we’ve got to sit down and have conversations about what’s best for our program, what’s best for our quarterbacks, and we’ll make those decisions in the future.” In this era of the transfer portal, Angeli, despite his experience, finds himself competing like a newcomer.

Even Steve Angeli knows it. But he says, “I love it. That’s all I know. I think I’m exactly where I was meant to be right now. Notre Dame is the place for me.” His dedication to the team is clearly fueling his fight for the QB1 spot. Hopefully, Freeman’s quarterback puzzle will soon yield a definitive answer.