While his first start for the Notre Dame football team didn't go as well as CJ Carr likely hoped, he's still getting praise for the way he carried himself. He also showed the ability to improve as the game went on, even leading the Irish back from being down two scores to briefly tying the game. Among those who heaped praise on Carr after the game was former Heisman winner Robert Griffin.
Griffin knows a thing or two about being a young quarterback, having to put a team on his shoulders. He took over a Baylor program that was one of the worst in college football and went on to win the Heisman following the 2011 season. Griffin is now a college football analyst who very much likes what he saw in Week 1 from Carr, who himself has been named as a dark-horse Heisman candidate by some experts.
Robert Griffin III praises CJ Carr’s performance in Notre Dame football debut
Griffin didn't go into too much detail about what he saw from the Notre Dame football quarterback. However, he was clear that he was impressed, writing on X, "Notre Dame QB CJ Carr has a bright future."
Notre Dame QB CJ Carr has a bright future.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 2, 2025
It's a glowing recommendation from one of the best players to come through the sport. It's also a welcome recommendation considering how hard Carr fought to win the job.
There were times during fall camp when it appeared Carr was running behind Kenny Minchey. Some experts believed the veteran quarterback was outperforming the redshirt freshman. However, Carr was a surprise announcement just a few days after head coach Marcus Freeman seemingly hinted it would be a while before any announcement was coming.
In throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns against Miami, the Notre Dame football quarterback showed he belonged. Hopefully, there's nowhere to go but up as his season continues on. Now he needs to get the Fighting Irish a win.