Who Is CJ Carr? A Look at the Notre Dame Quarterback Prospect

Quick Answer

CJ Carr is the starting quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, entering the 2026 season as a redshirt sophomore. After a standout 2025 campaign where he threw for 2,741 yards and 24 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions, he has emerged as one of college football's most talked-about young quarterbacks — and a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite according to multiple sportsbooks.

His pedigree, including his family connection to Michigan legend Lloyd Carr, makes him one of the most intriguing quarterback stories in the sport.

Key Facts

CJ Carr (full name Curtis Jason Carr) was born May 26, 2005, and is currently 21 years old
He plays quarterback for Notre Dame, wearing jersey #13, listed at 6'2" and 215 pounds (some recruiting profiles list him slightly taller)
2025 season stats: 195 completions on 293 attempts (66.6%), 2,741 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 168.1 passer rating
2025 rushing stats: 41 carries for 33 yards and 3 touchdowns
Carr started all 12 games in 2025, posting a 10–2 record as a starter
He was named Notre Dame's starting QB in August 2025 ahead of the season opener against Miami
He redshirted as a freshman in 2024 after dealing with an elbow injury
Carr attended Saline High School in Saline, Michigan, where he earned four-star prospect status
He is the grandson of Lloyd Carr, the former University of Michigan head football coach
As of August 2026, he tops preseason Heisman Trophy odds boards, ahead of Texas quarterback Arch Manning

The Football Bloodline and Recruitment Story

Growing Up in a Coaching Family

CJ Carr's path to Notre Dame started long before he ever took a college snap. Born into a family with deep football roots, Carr grew up around the game in ways most prospects never experience.

His grandfather, Lloyd Carr, coached Michigan from 1995 through 2007, winning a national championship in 1997. That family connection created an interesting dynamic during Carr's recruitment — the grandson of a Michigan legend ultimately chose to play for the Fighting Irish instead.

Carr attended Saline High School in Saline, Michigan, a program with a strong reputation in the state's high school football scene. His development there was steady and impressive.

As a senior in 2023, he led Saline to a 9–2 record and the second round of the Michigan Division 1 playoffs for the second consecutive year. That season, he completed 199 of 292 pass attempts — a 68.1% completion rate — for 2,754 yards.

But it wasn't just his senior year that turned heads. The year before, in 2022, Carr earned all-state honors after throwing for 2,685 yards while completing 68.1% of his passes with 26 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions.

He also showed mobility as a high school player, rushing for 221 yards and 7 touchdowns that season. His first year as a varsity starter came in 2021, and he continued to improve each season.

The Notre Dame Decision

When Carr committed to Notre Dame in June 2022 — a decision reported by ESPN with the headline "Grandson of Michigan great Carr chooses Irish" — it sent ripples through the recruiting world. Here was a legacy prospect with direct ties to one of Notre Dame's biggest rivals choosing the Irish over staying close to home.

The commitment stuck, and Carr officially signed with Notre Dame in December 2023. Scouting services took notice of his polish.

247Sports rated him as a 97 overall prospect, a four-star grade that placed him among the top quarterbacks in his class. His high school tape showed a quarterback who could make all the throws, process defenses quickly, and operate within structure while still creating when plays broke down.

The decision to leave Michigan — where his grandfather's legacy loomed large — for Notre Dame spoke to how Carr viewed his own path. He wasn't looking to ride a family name; he was looking to build his own identity as a quarterback, and South Bend offered him that opportunity.

The 2025 Breakout Season From Redshirt to Starter

A Delayed Debut

Carr arrived at Notre Dame in 2024 as a freshman with significant promise but also a lingering elbow issue that would define his first year on campus. Reports from that fall indicated Carr was working his way back from an elbow injury, and the coaching staff made the decision to redshirt him.

He appeared in just one game during the 2024 season, preserving his eligibility and giving his arm time to fully heal. The decision to hold Carr out was strategic.

Notre Dame had veteran options at quarterback, and there was no need to rush a young player who wasn't fully healthy. The redshirt year gave Carr time to learn offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock's system, adjust to the speed of college football, and build chemistry with his receivers — all without the pressure of game-day performance.

By the spring of 2025, however, the questions started mounting. Reports surfaced questioning whether Carr was "ready" for the responsibilities of being Notre Dame's starting quarterback.

The injury bug that had plagued the roster also raised concerns about the offensive line and pass rush heading into the season. Some analysts wondered whether Notre Dame should have pursued the transfer portal for a more experienced option.

Winning the Job

Those doubts were answered in August 2025. Nick Bromberg of Yahoo Sports reported on August 19, 2025, that Notre Dame had named Carr its starting quarterback for the Week 1 game against Miami.

The announcement ended any lingering quarterback controversy and gave Carr a clear mandate: lead this team. What followed was a season that exceeded even optimistic projections.

Carr started all 12 regular-season games for the Fighting Irish and guided them to a 10–2 record. His numbers told the story of a quarterback who was both efficient and explosive:

Completion percentage: 66.6% (195 of 293)
Passing yards: 2,741
Yards per attempt: 9.4
Touchdowns: 24
Interceptions: 6
Passer rating: 168.1

Those are not merely solid numbers — they are elite numbers for a first-year starter. The 168.1 passer rating places him among the most efficient quarterbacks in the country.

His 9.4 yards per attempt indicates Notre Dame wasn't dinking and dunking its way down the field; Carr was pushing the ball vertically and making big plays downfield. His longest completion of the season went for 66 yards.

Game-by-Game Development

Looking at Carr's game log from late in the 2025 season reveals a quarterback who got better as the competition stiffened. In a November 1 road game against Boston College, Carr completed 18 of 25 passes for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions, posting a passer rating of 198.9 and a QBR of 93.5.

A week later against Navy, he was even more efficient: 13 of 16 for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns, good for a 257.6 passer rating and a 98.8 QBR. Not every game was perfect.

In a November 15 matchup at Pittsburgh, Carr threw 2 interceptions — his only multi-interception game of the season — and completed 21 of 32 passes for 212 yards. His QBR dropped to 67.1 that day, a reminder that even the best young quarterbacks have off days.

But he bounced back in the season's final two games, throwing for a combined 254 yards and 3 touchdowns against Syracuse and Stanford while completing 63% of his passes. What the game log shows is a quarterback who rarely put his team in bad positions.

He was sacked only 12 times across 12 games, a testament to both his offensive line and his ability to get rid of the football quickly. His rushing numbers — 41 carries for just 33 yards — suggest he isn't a dual-threat quarterback in the traditional sense.

But he scored 3 rushing touchdowns, showing an ability to finish drives near the goal line.

The Broader Context

Carr's 2025 season didn't happen in a vacuum. Notre Dame entered the year ranked No.

4 in the country, and the expectations were enormous. The program was coming off a College Football Playoff appearance the previous season, and anything short of another deep run would be viewed as disappointment in South Bend.

Carr handled that pressure about as well as anyone could ask. His 10–2 record as a starter kept Notre Dame firmly in playoff contention throughout the season, and his efficiency numbers suggested he was playing well beyond his years.

By the time the regular season ended, Carr had established himself not just as Notre Dame's quarterback of the present, but as one of the most promising young quarterbacks in the entire country.

Why the Hype What Makes Carr a Top Prospect

Arm Talent and Accuracy

The first thing that jumps off Carr's tape — and his stat sheet — is his accuracy. A 66.6% completion rate as a first-year starter is exceptional, particularly when you consider that Notre Dame's offense is not a short-passing, screen-heavy system.

Carr's 9.4 yards per attempt shows he's throwing downfield with regularity, and he's completing those throws at a high clip. His passer rating of 168.1 is in the range typically reserved for Heisman-caliber seasons.

For context, that rating reflects a quarterback who is not just completing passes, but completing them efficiently and scoring at a high rate. His 24-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio — a 4-to-1 mark — demonstrates the kind of decision-making that translates directly to the next level.

Football Intelligence

A film breakdown video posted in August 2026 by The Film Guy Network, titled "Notre Dame QB CJ Carr is a Football SAVANT," highlights Carr's mental processing. While the video's title is promotional in nature, the underlying point is valid: Carr demonstrates an advanced understanding of defensive structure and coverage recognition for a player his age.

This shouldn't come as a surprise given his background. Growing up around a national championship-winning coach in Lloyd Carr would give any young quarterback a head start on the mental side of the game.

But Carr has clearly taken that foundation and built upon it with his own study habits and preparation. His ability to get through progressions quickly and find the right receiver is visible in his game film, and it's a skill that will only become more valuable as the competition level rises.

Poise Under Pressure

Twelve sacks in 12 games — that's a remarkably low number for a first-year starter. Part of that is credit to Notre Dame's offensive line, but part of it belongs to Carr himself.

He displays a calmness in the pocket that belies his age. He doesn't panic when pressure comes, he doesn't force throws into tight windows when he doesn't have to, and he understands when to take what the defense gives him versus when to push the ball downfield.

That poise was tested in the Pittsburgh game, when Carr threw his only multi-interception game of the season. Rather than letting the mistakes snowball, he rebounded in the following weeks and finished the season strong.

That kind of mental toughness is often the difference between quarterbacks who peak in college and those who continue to develop into NFL prospects.

The Physical Profile

At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Carr has adequate size for the quarterback position. He's not the biggest signal-caller you'll ever see, but he's big enough to see over the line of scrimmage and absorb contact in the pocket.

His listed weight of 215 pounds gives him a sturdy frame that should hold up to the physical demands of a full college season. His athleticism is functional rather than flashy.

His rushing numbers — 33 yards on 41 carries — won't remind anyone of a dual-threat quarterback. But he's mobile enough to extend plays when necessary, and his 3 rushing touchdowns show he's willing to put his head down near the goal line.

The 5-yard touchdown run referenced in ESPN's video highlights from the 2025 season demonstrates that while he's not a running quarterback, he's not a statue either.

The 2026 Season and Beyond Navigating Expectations

Preseason Accolades and Odds

As of September 2026, the hype machine is in full effect. FOX Sports reports that Carr tops the 2026 Heisman Trophy odds boards as the preseason favorite, ahead of Texas quarterback Arch Manning.

That's remarkable company for a player who has started just 12 college games. Joel Klatt, the FOX Sports college football analyst, included Carr and Oregon's Dante Moore on his preseason All-American team.

Klatt's endorsement carries weight in the college football world, and it signals that Carr is not just a statistical darling — he's a player that respected analysts believe will be among the best in the country. The "Quarterback CJ Carr returns to No.

4 Notre Dame trying to ignore the hype while producing results" headline from FOX Sports captures the central challenge of Carr's 2026 season. The hype is real, the expectations are enormous, and the pressure is on.

How Carr handles that pressure will define his sophomore season as a starter.

The Challenge of Sustained Success

The history of college football is littered with quarterbacks who had strong debut seasons only to regress when defenses had a full offseason to study their tendencies. Carr will face that challenge in 2026.

Defensive coordinators across the country have now seen him on film. They know his strengths — accuracy, decision-making, poise — and they'll scheme to take those away.

Notre Dame's offense, which FOX Sports reports will remain run-first in its approach, should help take some of the pressure off Carr. A strong running game opens up play-action opportunities and keeps defenses honest.

But it also means Carr's efficiency numbers might not be as gaudy as some of his statistical peers — particularly if Notre Dame is winning games by controlling the clock and leaning on its ground game. There's also the question of the offensive line.

Notre Dame loses starters every year to graduation and the NFL draft, and how well the new line protects Carr will go a long way toward determining his success. He was sacked just 12 times in 2025, and if that number spikes in 2026, it could affect both his performance and his health.

The NFL Trajectory

The polls, according to FOX Sports, have Oregon's Dante Moore as the early quarterback favorite for the 2027 NFL Draft. But Carr's name is very much in the conversation.

His combination of accuracy, intelligence, and production as a young starter is the exact profile NFL scouts look for in a franchise quarterback. Carr won't be eligible for the draft until after the 2026 season at the earliest — he's a redshirt sophomore, meaning he has two years of eligibility remaining after this season if he chooses to use them.

Whether he leaves early will depend on how the 2026 season unfolds. A Heisman-caliber season that ends with a deep playoff run could make him one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects in the country.

A down year could send him back to school for another season of development. The decision will ultimately come down to draft positioning and feedback from NFL scouts.

But based on what Carr showed in 2025, he has the traits — arm talent, accuracy, football IQ, poise — that NFL teams covet in a quarterback. The question isn't whether he'll get drafted; it's how high he'll go and whether he'll be the first quarterback off the board.

The Elbow Question

One lingering concern from Carr's past is the elbow injury that sidelined him during his freshman season. Reports from 2024 indicated he was working his way back from the injury, and there were questions about whether it would affect his throwing mechanics long-term.

USA Today ran a story in advance of the 2025 season headlined "Notre Dame's college football success in 2025 hinges on quarterback CJ Carr and his elbow."

Carr answered those questions emphatically with his 2025 performance. He threw 293 passes without any reported elbow issues, and his 9.4 yards per attempt suggests he was throwing with plenty of velocity and zip.

But elbow injuries can be tricky for quarterbacks, and the question of long-term durability will follow him until he proves otherwise over multiple seasons. For now, though, there's no indication of any ongoing issue.

Carr's 2025 season was one of the most productive by a first-year starter in Notre Dame history, and there's no reason to believe his elbow will be a factor in 2026 based on available information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CJ Carr related to Lloyd Carr?

Yes. CJ Carr is the grandson of Lloyd Carr, who served as the head football coach at the University of Michigan from 1995 to 2007 and won a national championship with the Wolverines in 1997.

Despite that family connection to Michigan, CJ Carr chose to commit to Notre Dame in June 2022 and signed with the Fighting Irish in December 2023.

What were CJ Carr's stats in the 2025 season?

In 2025, Carr completed 195 of 293 passes (66.6%) for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He posted a passer rating of 168.1 and added 33 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns on 41 carries.

He started all 12 games and led Notre Dame to a 10–2 record.

What high school did CJ Carr attend?

Carr attended Saline High School in Saline, Michigan. As a senior in 2023, he led the team to a 9–2 record and completed 68.1% of his passes for 2,754 yards.

He was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports with a grade of 97.

Why did CJ Carr redshirt as a freshman?

Carr redshirted during the 2024 season after dealing with an elbow injury. He appeared in just one game during his freshman year, preserving his eligibility.

Reports from that time indicated he was working his way back from the injury, and Notre Dame chose not to rush him onto the field.

Is CJ Carr a Heisman Trophy candidate for 2026?

Yes. As of the 2026 preseason, Carr tops Heisman Trophy odds boards as the favorite, ahead of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, according to FOX Sports.

He was also named to Joel Klatt's preseason All-American team alongside Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.

Reference Notes

Information in this article is based on publicly available sources. Some details may change over time.

Verify with official sources before acting.

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