With the 2024 Notre Dame Spring practices heating up, optimism surrounds the Irish’s talented quarterback room. Despite the excitement around the position, questions remain this Spring ahead of the annual Blue-Gold Game on April 20.
In recent years, Notre Dame has lacked an elite quarterback. This has hindered the team’s ability to field an offense capable of competing at a championship level. There is a heightened sense of optimism this spring. Heralded newcomers Riley Leonard and freshman CJ Carr have arrived. The emergence of Steve Angeli in 2023 will bolster the unit again this year. And Kenny Minchey’s evident talent adds depth to a deep quarterback room.
Riley Leonard Slowed by Surgeries
The depth chart at quarterback is headed by Leonard, a transfer portal acquisition from Duke. The experienced signal-caller has been hampered however by a pair of recent surgeries. Leonard sat out two games last October after Notre Dame defensive tackle Howard Cross III injured his ankle in the waning minutes of the Irish’s 21-14 win over Duke on Sept. 30. As a result, Leonard underwent tightrope ankle surgery in January. It appeared he had recovered in time for the start of spring practice on March 7. However, the injury required additional surgery as a stress fracture was starting to form.
Leonard threw for 1,102 yards during the 2023 season for the Duke Blue Devils. He completed 95 or 165 pass attempts (6.7 average). He threw three touchdowns and had three interceptions through seven games. In 2022, Leonard went 250-392(63.8 percent) for 2,697 yards. He threw 20 touchdown passes that season with just six interceptions. The dual-threat quarterback also rushed for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Clearly, Leonard is the most experienced quarterback on the Irish’s roster, having started 21 games in his collegiate career.
Reports are that Leonard’s ankle will not be an issue in the fall. Only time will tell if it impacts Leonard during the season. But for a quarterback who utilizes his legs as much as Leonard does, it is a significant question mark during Notre Dame’s spring practices.
Steve Angeli Continues to Flash Promise
Angeli has made just a single career start. But he made that one count, leading the Irish to a dominating 40-8 victory over Oregon State in the Sun Bowl last December. Starting in place of Sam Hartman, who bypassed the game, Angeli completed 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards. He threw three touchdowns against the Beavers. All told last season, Angeli went 34 of 44 (77.3 percent) for 504 yards. He tossed seven touchdowns with just one interception, and he rushed for 27 yards.
Last season, Angeli displayed a willingness to attack down the field. He effectively led the Irish offense and showcased his mobility in his limited opportunities. Except for the Sun Bowl game, most of Angeli’s time on the field came in clean-up duty with the outcome of the game already decided. With a confident demeanor, Angeli possesses a strong blend of arm strength and athleticism. This spring, Angeli appears to have the best chance to secure the backup role once again, depending on how Leonard rebounds from his surgeries this spring. He will be pushed by Carr and Michney, but he has the intangibles to play a significant role in the Irish’s offense once again in 2024.
Youth Movement: CJ Carr and Kenny Michney
Michney, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2023 class, threw just two passes for the Irish last season. He completed them both for 12 yards. From Henderson, Tennessee, Michney, at 6-1, 215 pounds, arrived at Notre Dame as a four-star recruit. His intelligence and his capacity to grasp the offense effectively are strong suits. The sophomore possesses a keen football intellect, and he can scramble. His movement, however, is primarily aimed at extending plays to locate open receivers. Any forward progress through spring practice following a year in the program could see Michney competing with Angeli for the backup role.
Carr, a 6-3, 190-pound freshman from Saline, Michigan, has success in his blood. He is the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr. The Saline High School star selected Notre Dame over Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan. In 2023, Carr threw for 2,754 yards, completing 199 passes from 292 attempts (68.2 percent). His production included 24 touchdowns and he also rushed for 91 yards and nine touchdowns. In his high school career, Carr completed 577 of 861 passing attempts for 8,135 yards. He connected for 78 touchdowns and threw 18 interceptions. Like Michney, Carr is a smart field general. He is an accurate thrower and a high-level game manager. He should thrive in new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s system.
Spring Takeaways at Quarterback
The addition of Leonard marks a significant shift for Notre Dame at the quarterback position. Regardless of the outcomes of Notre Dame’s spring practices, the team will have a new starting quarterback in the fall. Leonard’s playing style will bring a notable change compared to what Notre Dame’s fans have witnessed from the Irish over the past decade.
Leonard possesses arm talent, but it is his dynamic dual-threat capability that could prove to be Notre Dame’s most significant game-changing factor next season. Of course, he still needs to learn a new Irish offense this spring and become a more consistent thrower. But Leonard’s recovery, combined with the depth of talent in the quarterback room might finally have Notre Dame playing at a championship level in 2024.
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