(Photo Credit: John Mersits)
With Notre Dame’s starting quarterback position still ripe for the taking, Notre Dame wrapped up its 2025 spring practice schedule with its 94th Blue-Gold Game. This year, the Blue-Gold game had a different format: three periods consisting of four drives, and two eight-minute intermissions. With this new format, each quarterback was thrust into different game-like scenarios, as each drive started from a different spot on the field. CJ Carr, Steve Angeli, and Kenny Minchey had four drives each.
It will be a difficult decision for head coach Marcus Freeman regarding who his starting quarterback will be on the last day of August, when the Irish open at Hard Rock Stadium against Carson Beck and the Miami Hurricanes. All three quarterbacks had their moments this afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium. Perhaps the quarterback who was the most impressive was freshman CJ Carr, the highly talented quarterback from Saline, Michigan. Carr went 14-19 for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, which safety Ben Minich made a fantastic play to have the only turnover for the Gold Team.
From the jump, Carr made decisive throws, and demonstrated great patience and poise in the pocket. Clearly, there is a different zip on the ball when it comes off Carr’s fingertips. After Saturday, it appears that Carr is the leader in the clubhouse to start for the Irish at Hard Rock Stadium.
After a slow start by Angeli, he picked up right where he left off against Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Angeli went 8-11, for 108 yards, and a touchdown. On Angeli’s final drive of the day, after going through his progression, he fired a strike to freshman Scrap Robinson for a 16-yard touchdown. Despite some early miscues, Angeli remained steady.
All afternoon, Kenny Minchey gave the Gold Team fits with his active legs. In addition to rushing for a touchdown, Minchey went 6-14 for 106 yards. Minchey threw three inaccurate deeps balls which posed no threat to the Gold Team, but, Minchey’s short and middle throws were deadly, including a tight window throw to Gi’Bran Payne down the sidleline on Minchey’s last drive of the day.
For the upcoming 2025-26 season, there is zero concern for the Irish backfield, with will be led by three-headed monster Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price, and Aneyas Williams. Of course, Love was inactive today, but Love’s load was carried by Gi’Bran Payne, Kedren Young, and freshman Nolan James Jr. Especially impressive was James Jr., who rushed for 16 yards, and tallied three catches for 60 yards. On most of James Jr.’s carriers, it took at least three Gold Team defenders to take him to the ground. To no surprise to anyone across the country, the Irish backfield will be one of the best in the country in 2025.
Towards the end of last year, Notre Dame’s secondary was one of the best throughout college football, and that was evident today. Safety Adon Shuler forced a fumble after a massive hit on Kedren Young, and star cornerback Christian Gray had a few key pass breakups, and remained strong in coverage. Karson Hobbs, the sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, also impressed this afternoon, with a pass breakup in the endzone by a pass by Kenny Minchey, which saved a touchdown.
Moving forward into preparation for the fall, head coach Marcus Freeman stated there were no major injuries during the Blue-Gold game. The Irish will have a few final practices in the in the spring before the team begins its full preparation for the showdown in South Beach on the last day of August.
