In some ways, Notre Dame on Tuesday announcing CJ Carr as its starting quarterback was what everyone expected.
Carr is, after all, the quarterback the program long projected as its future. The grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr and a top-50 recruit from the 2024 class, the Fighting Irish skipped signing a transfer quarterback this offseason because of the program’s belief in Carr, per multiple sources.
But when Marcus Freeman told his team Tuesday — just moments before the program posted its announcement on social media — it did come as a surprise to some in the program.
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Not because some doubted Carr. Instead, it’s because of how close redshirt sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey made the competition.
“It could have gone either way,” one source said of the competition.
“I think it was 50-50 where guys think it could have went either way where some guys expected one guy and some the other,” another source said.
Minchey, a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, appeared in four games total his first two years at Notre Dame but only attempted three passes during that span.
There were times in camp where sources in and around the program felt like Minchey had a legitimate advantage in the competition. Part of that was the…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/how-cj-carr-edged-out-kenny-minchey-in-50-50-competition-to-become-notre-dames-week-1-qb/
Author : Chris Hummer
Publish date : 2025-08-21 14:56:00
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