Beyond arm talent, CJ Carr is forging deeper locker room connections, evolving into a commanding presence for Notre Dame's ambitious 2026 season.
For the first time since Ian Book in 2020, Notre Dame will have a returning starting quarterback under center in rising redshirt sophomore CJ Carr. The Michigan native won the competition last offseason and proceeded to start all 12 games for the Irish last fall. Along the way, Carr racked up 2,741 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, six interceptions and three rushing touchdowns. His performance throughout the season engineered Notre Dame's 10-game win streak to end the season.
Now, a year older and more experienced, Carr enters this offseason as the No. 1 guy and is taking command of the offense. His physical tools and performance on the field are spoken for. But his abilities as a leader are starting to shine this offseason. According to his quarterback coach Gino Guidugli, that's the next step in Carr's evolution.
"What's cool is CJ has the ability to touch everybody in the locker room," Guidugli shared in yesterday's post-practice press conference. "There's a relationship with everyone. Defensively, offensively, there's a relationship involved with everybody and when you have that, you can confront people when they're wrong and demand that they do it right, because you're coming from a place where there is a relationship there."
For Carr, the goal is simple, and the there's no moving target. He aspires to experience team success at the highest level and he's willing to do whatever he can to help achieve that level of excellence.
"Not much changes," Carr replied when asked how his leadership changes. "The goal is to hold yourself to a standard, and hold the team and your teammates to a standard and hope they do the same for you. We have an unbelievable locker room in there. We're surrounded by unbelievable people who want to. There's kids out here until 10 p.m. every night just working. It's easy with this group. They all want to win."
The 6-2, 215-pound redshirt sophomore is also taking on a different role within the quarterback room. Last season, he was battling for the No. 1 job; this year, he's leading a redshirt freshman in Blake Hebert and a true freshman in Noah Grubbs with fellow true freshman Teddy Jarrard coming in over the summer.
"I think both of those guys are going to come in every day prepared and are working really hard at it right now," Carr said about his two fellow quarterbacks. "It's about the reps and getting out there and doing it on the field. I'm excited to watch both of those, two guys kind of battle it out through the spring and it's gonna be a lot of fun."
Carr isn't looking to just be the leader of the offense, he's also looking to be a leader on the team. This is going to be a special year in South Bend and their returning QB1 will have a lot to do with it based on what he does on the field as well as off the field. His teammates will look to him for leadership and his playmaking abilities in the big moments. Carr knows how special this team is and he's ready to do his part.
"They all really want to be great," Carr stated about his teammates. "Part of it is just pushing myself to see how can I stay at the building if anyone has questions, if those freshmen don't know a formation or a play and how can help them. That's kind of what it is right now and if something needs to be said, we say it. That's up and down the locker room, it was great."
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