In Notre Dame’s recent spring scrimmage, all eyes were on the quarterback room as Angelii, Kenny Minchey, and CJ Carr each had an opportunity to run the offense and give coaches and fans a glimpse of what they bring to the table. Each QB had a unique showing, with varying degrees of success and control over the offense. While it’s still early in the evaluation process, the scrimmage offered some early impressions of how each quarterback is developing and how they might fit into the depth chart going forward.
Steve Angeli took the first snaps of the day. His performance was a mixed bag, leaning toward underwhelming. While he managed to string together a few completions, most of his passes were check-downs, rarely pushing the ball downfield with confidence. His one solid throw downfield showed he has the arm talent, but it was overshadowed by two other poor deep attempts that lacked touch or timing. There was little to no mobility on display—Angeli didn’t run at all, and the offense seemed static under his control. They did manage to reach the red zone, but the drive stalled there, resulting in a missed field goal. One bright spot during his drive was running back Jadarian Price, who looked sharp and explosive, providing spark and reliability out of the backfield.
Kenny Minchey followed, and while his drive didn’t end in points, there were some positives. The offense looked a bit more dynamic when he was under center. He mixed in three quarterback-designed runs with one running back handoff, which added some unpredictability to the drive. Communication at the line of scrimmage appeared smooth, and he looked in control during his snaps. Minchey completed three passes, and while none were especially flashy, he made solid reads. His drive ended on a 4th and 6 attempt where he was sacked, and the offense turned the ball over. The sack was more about protection breaking down than anything Minchey did wrong, but it halted any momentum he had built. It’s worth noting that receiver Aninns Williams, a potential playmaker, was not on the field enough during Minchey’s reps to make an impact or receive proper evaluation.
Then came CJ Carr, who arguably had the most impressive showing of the day. Carr’s drive started with challenging field position at their own 5-yard line. Despite the pressure, he showed immediate composure and poise. With Jadarian Price once again in the backfield, Carr opened with a strong run to ease into the drive. Then came a moment that stood out above all: a beautiful deep throw and catch that showcased his arm strength, accuracy, and timing. He followed that up with efficient short passes and another effective run. His ability to manage pressure stood out as well. On one play where he was pressured, he tucked the ball and ran—though it was blown dead because of his green non-contact jersey, it was the right decision and showed good instincts.
Even after a holding penalty slowed the momentum, Carr stayed composed. He led the offense close to the red zone, ultimately facing a 4th and 10. This time, the field goal attempt was successful, making Carr the only quarterback of the scrimmage to put points on the board. His communication, confidence, and ability to stretch the field vertically set him apart. He looked the most comfortable out there and showed flashes of high-level potential.
In conclusion, while Angeli struggled with decisiveness and consistency, and Minchey had a steady but unremarkable showing, Carr emerged as the standout. It’s early, and each quarterback has plenty of time to develop, but if this scrimmage is any indication, CJ Carr is a name to watch closely as Notre Dame prepares for the season.
