CJ Carr Shocks College Football—5-Star Quarterback’s Commitment Sparks Recruiting Frenzy

South Bend, Ind. — With kickoff against Miami less than two weeks away, Notre Dame’s quarterback race has reached a boiling point, and red-shirt freshman CJ Carr is rapidly emerging as the fan favorite to lead the Irish offense. In a recent One Foot Down poll, 76 percent of respondents said they want Carr to win the job over fellow contender Kenny Minchey. Coaches, however, still insist the battle remains neck-and-neck. Head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock have rotated both quarterbacks with the first-team offense through the final days of camp, and multiple practice observers describe the competition as “too close to call” heading into Week 1. Why Carr Has the Momentum • Elite pedigree: The 6-foot-3 signal-caller arrived in South Bend as a consensus top-100 recruit, celebrated for his combination of arm talent and pocket poise. • Rapid command of Denbrock’s scheme: Sources inside the program say Carr’s ability to change protections and manipulate safeties has accelerated since spring ball, allowing him to unlock deep-shot concepts to receivers Jayden Thomas and Jaden Greathouse. • Intangible edge: Teammates have lauded Carr’s leadership during voluntary summer workouts, noting his “calm urgency” in two-minute drills — a trait the staff values against a fast Miami front seven in the opener. What’s Holding Freeman Back • Experience gap: Minchey has one season in the playbook and 18 live snaps from 2024, giving coaches a limited but tangible data set. • Turnover margin focus: After Notre Dame coughed up 18 turnovers last fall, ball security is a non-negotiable metric. Minchey posted the lower interception rate in closed-scrimmage periods, according to team sources. • Schedule gauntlet: The Irish face Texas A&M and Ohio State in September; Freeman may prefer starting the veteran and deploying Carr situationally until the bye week. Stat Watch Heading Into Decision Day • 7.2: Carr’s yards per attempt in fall-camp team periods, compared with Minchey’s 6.5, per internal charting. • 29 mph: Top GPS-tracked speed from Carr on a zone-read keeper, the fastest of any Irish QB this camp. • 8/26: Target date Freeman gave media for releasing an official depth chart — although he conceded it could “stretch right up to game week” if separation remains marginal. Bottom Line Momentum, optics and upside all point to CJ Carr, and the fan base is squarely behind him. Yet Freeman’s track record shows he values proven ball security in early-season heavyweight matchups. Unless Carr delivers a flawless final scrimmage, Notre Dame could open 2025 with a hybrid approach — Minchey taking the first snap but Carr seeing scripted drives designed to ignite an offense that averaged only 29.8 points in Power Five games last year. Regardless of who wins the first-team nod, expect both quarterbacks to play in September. If Carr capitalizes on those reps, he could cement himself as the next face of Notre Dame football by the time the Irish roll into Columbus on September 21.