Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman on evaluating QB battle
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman says ‘decision-making’ will be paramount in determining whether CJ Carr or Kenny Minchey starts Week 1 at Miami
SOUTH BEND —Now that former Notre Dame football quarterback Riley Leonard is off to the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, the question of how to replace his running ability remains.
Leonard averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his lone season with the Irish. He often called his own number in short-yardage situations.
Converting 68 first downs by rush, more than four per game, Leonard gained 906 rushing yards in 16 games and had 17 rushing touchdowns. That latter figure eclipsed Brandon Wimbush’s school record for quarterbacks from 2017.
With the 2025 battle for succession down to CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey, Irish coach Marcus Freeman has options. Those include working both quarterbacks into the mix.
“Yeah, I could see us utilizing two quarterbacks in different situations,” Freeman said at the close of spring practice, “but we’re going to have a starter, and then you’ll have a guy that might could help our football team win games.”
With two-sport senior Tyler Buchner “under consideration” for a move back to quarterback, the notion of his run-heavy package in 2021 leaps to mind. Appearing in relief of Wisconsin transfer Jack Coan, Buchner averaged 7.3 yards on 46 carries as a freshman on his way to 336 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
While Carr is hardly immobile, one could see a scenario where Minchey or Buchner is the short-yardage or goal-line weapon off the bench. That would give offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock continued freedom to outnumber a stacked box with the threat of a…
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Publish date : 2025-04-29 12:41:00
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