It all started with a ripple effect—just like any good offseason drama in college football. Tennessee’s QB room was destabilized when Nico Iamaleava, the $8 million man himself, bailed out amid a contract blow-up tied to NIL. That move didn’t just shake Rocky Top—it sent tremors across the college football landscape. Think of it like a game of dominoes. Nico was the first tile, and now a few more are starting to topple. One of the names caught in that motion? Steve Angeli.
Let’s backtrack for a second. Tennessee, looking to patch up their five-star gap, turned to TCU’s Josh Hoover with a juicy $1 million offer—more than what he’s currently making. But Hoover? He said nah to the money, choosing loyalty over the lure of green. So with the Vols still quarterback shopping, another name suddenly jumped into the open market: Steve Angeli. Now here’s where it gets interesting….
Just days after taking the first reps at Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold spring game, Angeli made a surprising move—he entered the transfer portal. He wasn’t flashy, but he was solid. Led a promising drive, no turnovers, tossed a touchdown. But as the game progressed, it became clear: CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey were just a step ahead. And honestly, that had been the story all spring.
Marcus Freeman laid it all out plainly after the game: “You’ve got three guys that can all lead your program to a victory and be your starting quarterback.” But reality bites. Freeman also said he wanted to narrow the quarterback race down to two before August. With Angeli stepping away, that decision practically made itself. Now, it’s Carr vs. Minchey—and the picture for Notre Dame just got a little less blurry.
On the Andy & Ari show from On3, national reporter Andy Staples dove right into the aftermath. He asked co-host Ari Wasserman the question on everyone’s mind: “Do we think this means CJ Carr is QB1?”
Ari didn’t hold back: “Yeah. I said that CJ Carr won the job on Twitter when On3 posted the news that Steve Angeli entered the portal, and I got a lot of people like commenting ‘old takes exposed’ there. Am I, like, off there for thinking this?” Andy played devil’s advocate, reminding him there’s still a “Kenny Minchey hive out there.” So, while it feels like CJ Carr’s job to lose, it’s far from a done deal. But it’s clear that Freeman’s QB dilemma is no longer a three-man juggling act.
Still, Angeli’s story is far from over. Andy Staples made sure to paint the full picture. Despite being edged out in South Bend, Angeli isn’t fading into obscurity. In fact, Andy confirmed there’s serious Power 4 interest. “Pete Nakos wrote a story about ‘What about Steve Angeli at Tennessee?’”
But don’t expect a rush. Andy believes the Vols are “trying to see what else shakes out, to see if anybody who is a QB1 somewhere established decides they want to enter the portal—maybe with a little slight nudging.” Well, Tennessee might be window-shopping for a bigger splash. But Andy was honest— “I don’t know that Angeli would be in line for that.”
Still, he’s bullish on Angeli’s prospects. “I would think Angeli is in line somewhere, if somebody still isn’t sure how they feel about their quarterback situation in the Power Four or at the top of the Group of Five. I think Steve Angeli could start for some of those schools.”
And honestly, he’s not wrong…..
Time to notice Steve Angeli
Let’s talk résumé. Angeli wasn’t some clipboard-holding backup riding out eligibility. He’s a former four-star recruit out of New Jersey who played. Over 2023 and 2024, he appeared in 21 games, completed 72.5% of his passes, threw for 772 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just one interception. In 2024 alone, he went 24-of-36 for 268 yards and three scores. His biggest moment? The Orange Bowl.
When Riley Leonard went down, Angeli stepped in cold and calmly led a drive, going 6-of-7 for 44 yards and putting Notre Dame in scoring position before the half. That’s not nothing. That’s poise.
Andy also shared a pretty eye-opening conversation he had with ESPN analyst Greg McElroy: “Every time he’s watched him on film, he’s been incredibly efficient. He even compared him to Joe Burrow—saying he could come out of nowhere, but not in terms of production.” Now that’s a wild but intriguing comparison. Not calling Angeli the next Burrow—but maybe he’s the guy people slept on too long.
Let’s not forget, Angeli started the Sun Bowl the previous year and balled out. It’s not like he was inexperienced or overhyped. If anything, his Notre Dame career was defined by quiet confidence and consistent improvement—until the numbers game finally caught up.
Andy took the conversation further, noting that looking back at the Notre Dame–Penn State semifinal, it was clear the quarterback was thrown into a tough spot. Well, the team only managed three points at a time when even a Riley Leonard-led offense couldn’t get a first down. Yet, a lot of stock was being placed on that situation, and it seemed to apply only to Angeli. But then, Andy raised a key question—how much should they really read into it?
Jan 18, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) and quarterback Steve Angeli (18) throw the ball during practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Now, the waiting game begins. But it won’t last long. Angeli has two full years of eligibility, a solid body of work, and he’s as ready as ever to lead a program. The question is who picks up the phone first. Tennessee could still circle back. So could a dozen other Power 4 schools that don’t quite love their QB room.
It’s only mid-April. Plenty of spring camps are wrapping, and some QB battles are just getting messier. Don’t be surprised if a coach somewhere looks at the film, checks the stats, and realizes Angeli might be the perfect plug-and-play guy.
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