Notre Dame was almost there, but then they weren’t. Despite being an independent side, Notre Dame took on the big SEC and B1G teams and came out on top. Remember their games against Georgia and Penn State? Well, that dream-of-a-run got halted by the Buckeyes on January 20th. Now, looking to run it back in 2025, head coach Marcus Freeman has a decision to make. In 2024, Riley Leonard led the Fighting Irish to the championship game. Now, he’s off to the NFL. Who’s the new QB1? Until recently, three-star QB from the 2022 class, Steve Angeli, was leading the race. However, now, there’s a 207-lb twist.

Riley Leonard’s departure has been an unparalleled void in the Irish offense. However, Marcus Freeman focuses on swooping and exploring talents. So, saying he doesn’t have a guy to bank on the next would be a palpable lie. Rather, the one critical question can be who among the quarterbacks at hand will win the job, toppling others, and how can he live up to the former signal caller’s dual-threat ability?

With 2861 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 2024 for the Irish, Leonard could definitely throw the ball. However, what made him such a weapon for Marcus Freeman was also his running game. 906 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. Imagine your QB contributing to 38 touchdowns. The stuff of dreams! However, there is a quarterback on Notre Dame’s roster who argues that he is as good a runner as Riley and, in fact, he thinks he is better.

On the March 25th episode of the Notre Dame Football Blue and Gold Podcast, insider Tyler Horka talked about one of the options that Freeman can rely on in 2025. “Kenny Minchey thinks he’s faster than Riley Leonard, and maybe he can do a little bit more with his legs than Riley Leonard. Freeman wasn’t going to go as far as to say that. But Guli [Gino Guidugli] went as far as to say, Yeah, I think he is the most athletic quarterback.” 

Minchey, the former top-175 national recruit from Hendersonville, Tenn., even said the same to Riley Leonard last year. That he’s faster than the QB who currently holds ND’s single-season rushing touchdowns record for quarterbacks. But they never put it to the test. Minchey also claimed that he may have the same level of athleticism. Gino Guidugli, the elite QB coach of the Irish, subtly seconded it, saying he is the most athletic in the room.

Putting two athletes in a close competition is way more difficult than it looks like, as both share their own strengths and frailties. While Minchey is widely crowned for his rocket arm and picture-perfect throws, Leonard has his unique expertise in the rushing game. But there is one common thing that Horka spots in every great QB over the years. “The quarterbacks who have been really impressive over the last 10-15-20 years in college football are the guys who, yeah, they can make all the throws, but they can also do some things with their legs that put them in the category of a magician or a magic man if you will, and maybe that is what Kenny Minchey is. We’ll see if that manifests.”

There, you have it. How can Minchey get a starting QB over others? Well, because he is in that category of QBs Freeman likes. Ones who can make throws but also use their legs. Even the Irish QB coach thinks Minchey is faster than Leonard.

However, there are others on the line as well. Senior-to-be Steve Angeli and CJ Carr made their respective cases for taking the reins from Leonard at South Bend. Many veterans and pundits believe it’s Angeli’s time to shine under the center. The New Jersey native came to the program three years back with the expectation to run the offense eventually, and he showcased his ability when Marcus Freeman trusted him under the center. Remember that Orange Bowl game against Penn State? Riley Leonard had to go out due to an injury, and in comes Angeli. Well, he completed 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards and led the team to a field goal. How crucial was it? In the end, Notre Dame won (27-24) by a field goal.

But again, as long as Minchey knows why he stands out, you can’t overlook the 4-star QB phenom from the 2023 class with 3,280 yards in his junior year in high school under his belt.

Kenny Minchey can be a versatile contributor for Marcus Freeman 

Minchey is a versatile guy who never limits his role in the team. Although he had only completed three full passing attempts in his Irish career, he is way more than that. He has a rough idea of how the offense works and what suits it the best. So, he never lacks the adjustment element whenever he’s called to action. He’s also someone quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli has previously dubbed a gunslinger. Guidugli also described Minchey as a “really accurate passer.”

What does the QB have to say about his own qualities? “Personally, I would say the accuracy, and I’m trying to work on my decision-making,” Minchey said amidst the fierce quarterback competition. “Playmaking ability, which could tie into athleticism.” Well, it’s not about beating your own drums but more about being confident and aware of your gifts enough to hone them even more for the sake of the collective. It’s not just the throwing, however. He is the one to review the practice script and correct any flaws.

“We do a script review every practice in our meeting before we walk out. Kenny’s the guy who’s gonna come in, and when the coach is making a mistake on the script, he’s gonna be the first one to say, ‘Hey, on Play 12, is that supposed to be? ‘ Coach Guidugli brought back a cherished memory. We will see if Minchey will take the biggest leap of his career this spring or keep waiting in the QB room for another season.