CJ Carr Crowned Notre Dame’s Title Catalyst by ESPN’s Greg McElroy—Praised as “Different” Amid Bold Comparison to Former Starter Riley Leonard
CJ Carr hasn’t played a single down as the official starting quarterback of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but he already carries the weight of championship expectations. That pressure only intensified on June 25, 2025, when ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy made headlines by declaring Carr the quarterback to lead Notre Dame to a national title. In a bold statement on “The Independent” podcast, McElroy made a clear distinction between Carr and the Irish’s 2024 starter Riley Leonard, pointing out Carr’s elite passing ability as the defining quality that sets him apart and could potentially push Notre Dame over the hump in their quest for a national championship.
It’s a declaration that reverberated through the college football world, not just because it placed a redshirt freshman in such a critical spotlight, but because it came at the expense of a veteran like Leonard. In 2024, Leonard delivered solid results for the Irish, throwing for 2,861 yards and rushing for another 906. He embodied the modern dual-threat quarterback archetype and gave Notre Dame a consistent offensive presence. However, McElroy emphasized that while Leonard was serviceable and even dynamic on the ground, Carr represents something the Irish have lacked in recent years—a pure passer with elite-level ball placement and a next-level football mind.
“Watching the ball come off his hand, he’s different,” McElroy said, expressing admiration for Carr’s touch, arm strength, and release. It was a comment that drew nods of agreement from some and raised eyebrows from others. There’s something poetic and perhaps prophetic in McElroy’s assessment. In a sport dominated by athleticism and improvisation, his endorsement of Carr’s precision and polish stands out as a traditionalist’s dream—a return to quarterback fundamentals refined at the highest level.
Carr’s story is layered with intrigue. A four-star recruit in the 2024 class, he arrived in South Bend with sky-high expectations. The grandson of legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, CJ had already faced immense pressure before donning a golden helmet. He threw for 2,754 yards and 25 touchdowns in his final high school season and enrolled at Notre Dame with the hope that he’d eventually be the man to deliver what has long eluded the Irish—a national championship in the modern era. Now, after a redshirt year learning the playbook, adjusting to the college game, and impressing coaches and teammates behind closed doors, Carr is poised to take the reins of the offense.
Notre Dame’s decision to hand the offense over to Carr heading into 2025 is not just about talent; it’s about vision. Head coach Marcus Freeman, entering his fourth season, knows the Irish must evolve offensively to compete with the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State. In recent years, Notre Dame’s offensive schemes have been criticized for lacking explosiveness and failing to generate big plays in key moments. Leonard, while gritty and effective, often relied on his legs to extend drives rather than stretching the field vertically. In contrast, Carr offers a style of play that leans heavily into vertical concepts, timing routes, and anticipation throws—hallmarks of elite-level quarterbacking that elevate everyone around him.
McElroy was clear in stating that Carr’s arm talent alone puts him in the upper echelon of college quarterbacks, even if he hasn’t yet played a full season. His football IQ, undoubtedly influenced by his grandfather’s legacy and coaching pedigree, only strengthens the case. Carr’s anticipation, ability to read coverages, and lightning-quick release are traits often found in upperclassmen, not redshirt freshmen. The leap from backup to starter is rarely seamless, but Carr’s preparation reportedly has been obsessive, and Freeman’s staff has surrounded him with a strong supporting cast to ease the transition.
Notre Dame’s offensive line—lauded as the best in the country by McElroy himself—will be a key asset in Carr’s development. With bookends that can neutralize elite edge rushers and interior linemen who hold strong against pressure, Carr will have time to go through his progressions and execute the game plan. The Irish return a solid corps of receivers, headlined by speedster Tobias Merriweather and breakout candidate Jayden Thomas, both of whom should benefit immensely from Carr’s precision and deep-ball accuracy. At tight end, sophomore Eli Raridon is expected to be a security blanket across the middle, giving Carr another trustworthy option in high-leverage situations.
Then there’s the matter of the schedule. Notre Dame doesn’t get a warm-up act in 2025. The season opener is a blockbuster matchup against Miami, a team that boasts one of the nation’s top defenses and enters the year with playoff aspirations of its own. The game will be broadcast in primetime, and the spotlight will be squarely on Carr. It’s a trial by fire, and McElroy’s confidence in Carr will be tested immediately. Yet McElroy is unfazed, noting on the podcast that “this kid has the poise and polish of someone who’s been preparing for this his entire life.”
What makes McElroy’s assertion even more compelling is how rare it is for a national analyst to be so direct in elevating an unproven player over an established starter. Riley Leonard’s departure from Notre Dame came with respect and admiration for what he brought to the program. His toughness, leadership, and dual-threat capability provided Notre Dame with stability in 2024, but McElroy made it clear that in today’s game, especially against elite competition, a quarterback must be able to win from the pocket consistently. Carr, in McElroy’s eyes, is not just capable of that—he excels at it.
It’s also worth noting how Notre Dame’s coaching staff has tailored the offense to better fit Carr’s strengths. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has introduced new passing concepts this offseason, many designed to take advantage of Carr’s quick release and high-level vision. Expect more tempo, more pre-snap motion, and more aggressive downfield shots than Irish fans have seen in recent years. Denbrock understands that Carr’s greatest weapon is his arm, and the playbook will reflect that reality.
Carr’s development will also benefit from working with quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, a former college QB himself who’s earned praise for his teaching style and attention to detail. Sources close to the program say Carr and Guidugli have developed a strong rapport, with Carr often staying long after practice to review film and make mechanical adjustments. It’s that commitment to improvement that has many within the Notre Dame program believing the hype is warranted.
Of course, hype can be a double-edged sword. For all the confidence McElroy and others have shown, Carr still has to prove it on the field. College football is littered with examples of highly touted quarterbacks who failed to deliver once the lights came on. But those close to the program insist Carr is wired differently. Teammates describe him as calm, unshakable, and intensely focused. Senior captain and center Zeke Correll remarked during spring camp, “You can just tell he commands the huddle. Guys believe in him, and that’s rare for someone his age.”
Carr’s rise also signals a larger shift within the Notre Dame program. For years, the Irish have relied on transfers and stopgaps at quarterback—solid players, but not elite. With Carr, they may finally have a foundational talent to build around for multiple seasons. His presence stabilizes the position and opens up strategic possibilities that weren’t previously available. It’s no coincidence that Notre Dame’s recruiting has also surged, with several top offensive skill players citing Carr as a key reason for their commitment.
The 2025 season will be a defining one for Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish. After knocking on the playoff door the past two years, Notre Dame fans are hungry for more. The expectations are high, the margin for error small. And yet, in CJ Carr, many see not just a quarterback but a catalyst—someone capable of turning potential into results, and results into history.
If McElroy’s bold prediction proves accurate, Carr won’t just be Notre Dame’s starter; he’ll be the face of a renaissance. A player who carries not only a famous name, but the hopes of a storied program aching for a return to glory. The comparisons to Riley Leonard will likely persist throughout the season, especially if Leonard finds success elsewhere, but for Notre Dame, the focus is firmly on the future. A future that, thanks to a live arm, sky-high IQ, and the unshakable belief of a national analyst, now seems a little bit brighter.
Whether Carr lives up to the billing remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the CJ Carr era at Notre Dame has begun—and it’s starting with a thunderous endorsement.
