After a fall camp battle that went a bit longer than expected, Notre Dame ended speculation and announced that redshirt freshman CJ Carr will be the Fighting Irish's quarterback for the 2025-26 season.
After a fall camp battle that went a bit longer than expected, Notre Dame ended speculation and announced that redshirt freshman CJ Carr will be the Fighting Irish’s quarterback for the 2025-26 season.
Here are five things to know about Carr.
Carr was a decorated high school recruit
Three of the four major recruiting outlets listed Carr as a top-50 overall player in the 2024 class. The Rivals Industry Ranking — an equally weighted average that utilizes each major recruiting service — listed him as the No. 68 overall player and No. 6 signal-caller in America.
Carr earned his offer from the Irish after performing for former coach Tommy Rees at a prospect camp in June 2021 and committed to Notre Dame on June 9, 2022, over the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Georgia, Alabama, LSU and many others.
“I love Notre Dame,” Carr said about choosing the Irish. “I know exactly how I will be coached there, I know what will be expected of me and I am excited to help build the recruiting class.”
Carr arrived in South Bend after a high school football career with outstanding statistics and accolades. He threw for over 8,000 yards and 78 touchdowns (primarily in three seasons) at Saline (Mich.) High.
In the 2023 season, Carr completed 199-285 (69.8%) passes for 2,787 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He also added 242 rushing yards and 9 scores on 40 carries.
The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association named Carr Division I first team All-State and to the Division 1, Region 3 first team for his efforts in 2023. The Associated Press recognized him as Division 1-2 second-team All-State.
He comes from a football royalty
Carr is the grandson of legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who guided the program from 1995-2007, compiled a 122-40 record, and won the 1997 national championship. Carr’s maternal grandfather is Tom Curtis, a former All-American and College Football Hall of Fame Michigan safety. Jason Carr, Lloyd’s son and CJ’s father, was a quarterback at Michigan in the 1990s. His mother, Tammi, also graduated from Michigan.
Carr has limited in-game experience
He appeared in Notre Dame’s blowout road victory against Purdue last season, but his first collegiate pass will be in the season opener against Miami in 11 days. Carr also dealt with an injury to his elbow in his right arm. He wasn’t likely to play regardless, but the injury didn’t help matters.
Carr quickly ascended from QB4 a year ago up to QB1. The Notre Dame coaching staff is rolling with their quarterback of the future with high upside.
He’s excelled in Notre Dame spring games
Irish fans have been able to see Carr in the 2024 and 2025 Blue-Gold Games, and he did not disappoint in either.
For the 2024 contest, he rotated between the Blue and Gold teams, completing 15 of 23 passes for 165 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions.
He flashed the most of the three quarterbacks in the 2025 spring game, connecting on 15 of 19 attempts for 170 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Carr won a hotly contested QB battle
Going into fall camp, the expectation was that Carr would be named the starting quarterback, but the emergence of redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey complicated things. The battle did go on a few days longer than most would have anticipated, but the ending was what was originally expected — Carr being the starting quarterback.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock felt comfortable playing either quarterback against Miami.
“We’re confident that we got two guys who can compete at a high level and do a really, really good job,” Denbrock said on Sunday.
Category: General Sports
