‘A professional dream dissolving’ was the look on Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman’s face when he last exited the field, a place where first downs and chunk plays reigned supreme. Now, the Irish are back for spring practice, their eyes set on the weight of expectations but also shadowed by the reality of an unsettled quarterback room. Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, and CJ Carr—three contenders, each bringing a unique skill set—yet none have decisively seized the starting role, leaving Freeman’s hand untied. And Freeman, true to his word, isn’t rushing. “We’ll name a starter when a starter clearly shows that he’s the best quarterback,” he declared. “I don’t want to put a timetable on it and I refuse to do that.” That sounds noble. But for a program with playoff aspirations, having a definitive QB1 sooner rather than later is the difference between a smooth transition and an early-season identity crisis.
No doubt about it, the next quarterback who gets to run Mike Denbrock’s offense might just be a hidden weapon. Losing Riley Leonard stings, but On3’s analyst J.D. PicKell doesn’t see it as a devastating blow. “You lose Riley Leonard, okay, that’s obviously a massive setback, but I don’t see the offense taking that much of a step back, to be honest with you,” PicKell said. And his reasoning is simple: Notre Dame’s offensive firepower isn’t just about the quarterback. “The key word here for me is explosiveness for Notre Dame,” he emphasized.
Jordan Faison flashed that in the Indiana game. Jaden Greathouse turned heads in the final two games of the season, torching elite defenses. And then there’s OSU’s and CFB’s greatest freshman ever, Jeremiah Love, whom PicKell didn’t mince words about: “We’ve said it before… Jeremiah Love is the best running back in America coming back for next season.” That’s a statement that should make Irish fans sit up straight. Love was a game-changer, against Marcus Freeman. Of course, raw talent alone doesn’t guarantee fireworks.
Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads the team onto the field before a first round playoff game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Last season, Notre Dame’s passing offense hovered around a respectable but unspectacular seven yards per attempt. Not bad, but not top-tier. That’s why PicKell believes the next step for the Irish offense isn’t just about maintaining last year’s production—it’s about elevating it. “There is the potential for them to again be a little bit more explosive in 2025,” he said. The supporting cast is there, and so is the opportunity. The question is, can the scheme and play-calling take advantage of it? That’s where OC Denbrock comes in.
Denbrock is set to maximize their attack, creating scenarios where defenses are hopelessly outmatched. If that happens, then the ceiling for this team is high. Very high!
PicKell went as far as to say, “So it’s this mix of offensive identity paired with personnel to why you can expect that for Notre Dame here in 2025.” And then he laid out exactly what that means. “You’re saying all these things, JD—offense is more explosive, that’s great, we’re here for that. What does that actually mean? What that means is I think you can expect to be back where you were this past season, get back in the College Football Playoff.” That’s a declaration right there.
The Irish aren’t just aiming to be good; they’re looking to be in the national conversation. But even as he made that claim, PicKell tempered expectations slightly. “Now, that’s not me calling my shot right now for Notre Dame to play in the national title,” he said. The Irish might have the offensive firepower to make noise, but are they built to go all the way? That remains to be seen. It might not be everything, but it certainly counts for something, and that’s where Steve Angeli might have an edge in the QB1 battle.
QB coach Gino Guidugli acknowledged as much when asked if Angeli’s experience factored into the decision-making process. “Anybody in any profession, if they’ve got experience doing something and have had success, that’s going to give you a leg up,” Guidugli said. And that’s exactly what Angeli has. “Steve, at least, has that in his back pocket as a confidence builder. Like, ‘Hey, I’ve gone out [and] started a game. Played really well, won a game. Every time I’ve been called on…I’ve gone in and been able to hold the offense to the same standard as the starter.’” It’s not a full endorsement, but a clear nod to tested experience.
However, spring practice is throwing a wrench in things. A deep playoff run leaves scars—injuries. Defensive end Cole Mullins, left tackle Anthonie Knapp, safety Jalen Stroman, WR Will Pauling, and guard Billy Schrauth are all sidelined or limited. And players being out is sure hampering Notre Dame’s preparation for 2025. Coach Freeman’s plans are scrambled.
Spring practice builds chemistry, and key players missing time is a problem. Especially for the offensive line, already injury-prone. With Knapp and Schrauth limited and a QB decision looming, it’s a mess. Steve Angeli or someone else, a shaky O-line is trouble. Meanwhile, Freeman is banking on good teaching to make things work.
Marcus Freeman on what he looks for in young coaches
During spring break, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman took a step back from the grind to sit down with Adam Breneman and reflect on the long, grueling season the Irish had just endured. From battling adversity to charting a course for the program’s future, Freeman had plenty to discuss—including what he values most when hiring young coaches.
“You know, I think I look for three things,” Freeman explained. “One, are you competent? Can you really do the job you’re required to do? Have you shown to be competent? Have you shown to be able to produce at that position that we’re looking to hire you?” That’s just the baseline. For Freeman, coaching isn’t just about knowing X’s and O’s—it’s about character. “Are you a good person? Do you choose hard? Do you do the right things when nobody is looking? I think that’s important.”
And lastly, it all comes down to communication. “How well do you teach?” Freeman asked. After all, the best schemes in the world mean nothing if a coach can’t get his players to buy in.
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