After narrowly winning the offseason competition to become Notre Dame’s starting quarterback, second-year player CJ Carr has seized the opportunity, earning high praise from head coach Marcus Freeman.
“It’s rare to be a second-year college football player playing in your fifth [career] game and performing at a level he’s performing at,” Freeman said Monday. “But I think CJ Carr is rare.”
Carr delivered his first career 300-yard passing game in Saturday’s 56-13 victory over Arkansas, completing 22 of 30 passes for 354 yards and four touchdowns. His 294 passing yards in the first half alone marked the third-highest total in school history. The four touchdown passes were tied for the second-most by a true or redshirt freshman in the program’s history.
Through the season’s first four games, Carr has amassed 1,091 passing yards with nine touchdowns against two interceptions, and he currently ranks second nationally in total QBR.
The grandson of legendary Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, he secured the starting role over third-year sophomore Kenny Minchey following a tight competition in the spring and preseason camp. Carr’s rapid development is notable, as he appeared in only one game last season without attempting a pass.
Freeman attributed Carr’s success to a unique combination of drive and character.
“He has this unique trait that very few people have,” Freeman said. “He is a competitive, selfless individual. It’s not about CJ Carr… whatever it takes to win, he has that trait. He hates to lose, and then he’s mature in the way he prepares.”
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