The quarterback battle is really heating up at Notre Dame with CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey both working to impress head coach Marcus Freeman. Minchey is coming in this season with little experience, only appearing in one game last season, while Carr is coming in as a freshman with no playing experience last season.
Carr has certainly been putting in the work and right now is favored to win the quarterback battle, adn some of that could be what he is doing in fall camp right now. When the media walked in for the first day of fall camp practice, the first thing they have been seeing is that while the team is stretching, Carr is off throwing by himself, which could mean a few things.
For one, Carr could have come in early and already stretched before everyone else got there, so that he could get some extra throwing in. If that is the case, it just shows that Carr is dedicated to getting better in the passing game.
For another, it could mean that Carr just simply stretched on his own and decided to get started with throwing warmups early. Either way, it is a good sign to see him so eager to get started on the first day of fall camp.
First thing reporters saw when they walked into the Irish Athletics Center for Notre Dame's first camp practice: CJ Carr throwing by himself while the rest of the quarterbacks (including Kenny Minchey) were in team stretching lines.
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) August 1, 2025
Nobody seemed to bat an eye. Carr being Carr. pic.twitter.com/VZVZBQAZiJ
This quarterback battle is certainly far from over, if some believe the job is already Carr's. Minchey was quoted today as saying he is capable of leading the team and believes he should win the job as well, so there is no question that both guys want it.
Freeman has talked a lot about the battle this offseason, saying that there is a chance Notre Dame could use both throughout the season, but who steps on the field in the first game for the first drive will be determined by who wins the team over first.
Fall camp has just begun, so both guys have time to win both the team and the coaches over, but they certainly have to work hard to be awarded the starting role.