Carr's electrifying return ignites rave reviews for leadership and arm talent. Coaches and teammates laud his presence, anticipating a dominant 2026 season.
For the first time since 2020, Notre Dame has a returning starting quarterback under center. Rising redshirt sophomore CJ Carr is poised for a big season for the Irish in 2026 and he's starting to generate a lot of national attention. He's a way-too-early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and is being named a top returning starter for the Irish ahead of this fall.
With the way the 2026 season came to an end, we knew a competitor like Carr would be chomping at the bit to get back on the field and start slinging the football around. Third year offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock knew exactly how Carr's first spring practice would look and didn't surprise the veteran offensive play-caller for in the slightest.
"It’s funny because during football school, I’m over on the side chuckling to myself because in football school, you can’t have a ball," Denbrock shared. "So we’re running seven-on-seven but there’s no ball. So CJ has been chomping at the bit for like three weeks to throw the ball, and I knew exactly what was going to happen today when the ball came out. That ball was going down the field no matter what, no matter how deep the safety was or anything else, he was going to launch. I got a chuckle out of that on the sidelines because I knew what was coming."
Carr's abilities throwing the football have never been in question, neither has his leadership capabilities. But now, as they enter an offseason where a lot of veteran leadership has departed for the NFL draft, it was time for the 6-2, 215-pound quarterback to rise to the occasion. Quarterback's coach Gino Guidugli had raving reviews about Carr's leadership so far this offseason.
"CJ has the ability to touch everybody in the locker room," Guidugli explained. "Defensively or 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.
"They understand, he's coming from a place where he wants his team to be great," Guidugli continued. "He's doing all the things inside of his position to make sure the offense is going to be great or he's going to be great at the quarterback position, and he just wants to hold them to that same standard."
The leadership that Carr exudes isn't only felt on the offensive side of the football. Returning captain and starting middle linebacker Drayk Bowen also acknowledges the Saline, Michigan native as one of the core leaders of this team. Having been a captain in 2025, Bowen knows what it takes to be a leader of this football team, and Carr has all the qualities of a captain.
"He's the leader out there and everybody listens to him," Bowen said. "He carries himself a certain way, not just on the field, but outside of the facility. He's getting people in here on a Saturday morning, or later in the afternoon to go over routes, watch film with the receivers, tight ends and offensive lineman.
"He knows everybody, he jokes with people and he does everything that a captain does by the way he leads," Bowen continued to share. "He's a vocal leader and everybody respects him but he's more than just a quarterback. He's the dude that's going to get to know you. He's going to do the extra work, even by himself, but he's going to bring people along with him."
Carr's a more than capable leader, but it's his abilities on the field that injects confidence throughout the fan base, on the coaching staff and amongst teammates. Wide receiver Jordan Faison returns in 2026 after leading the team in receptions and yards last fall. The on-field relationship he's built with Carr is second-to-none and it's due to the example he's set for the offense.
"I feel like we're always on the same page," Faison stated. "He's on the same page with all of our guys. Whatever we see, he's already seeing it. His IQ is through the roof. The amount of time he puts into the film room is ridiculous. He comes out here, and you can see how it translates. He's able to read defenses fast, make choices fast, and it goes a long way."
Fellow 2024 recruiting classmate Micah Gilbert echoes the same sentiment about Notre Dame's starting quarterback. Gilbert caught Carr's first touchdown pass of his career on the road, at night inside of Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes.
"The way he approaches the game," Gilbert answered when asked about what makes Carr different. "CJ is a super competitive person and that's something that rubs off on all of us. We all want to win. That's what we came here for. So his competitiveness and the way he's so intentional with his work rubs off on the whole receiver room and everybody around the building."
Notre Dame is poised for a big season in 2026 and Carr has the opportunity to do some things a Fighting Irish quarterback hasn't done in South Bend in several decades. He has the talent and the leadership qualities to be one of the best to take a snap under center this century and he has the backing and the support of the Notre Dame coaching staff and his teammates.
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