Young QB CJ Carr hopes to know Notre Dame football offense like the back of his hand
SOUTH BEND — CJ Carr, redshirt freshman quarterback for Notre Dame football, wore a self-styled reminder on the back of his left hand for Friday’s second practice of the spring.
“Keep Football Simple,” the message read.
Penned in black sharpie, those three words helped the prospective starter keep things in perspective as he vies with upperclassmen Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey for first-team opportunities.
“It's just like my intention for the day,” Carr said. “Football is not an easy sport. Don't confuse simple with easy.”
Healthy again after a September elbow injury, Carr writes a different reminder on his hand each day before practice. It’s something he picked up from predecessor Riley Leonard and plans on continuing.
“We kind of tinkered with it,” Carr said. “Making sure I have a plan each and every day, a goal that I'm trying to really improve on one part of my game, is important for me.”
The four-star recruit from Saline, Mich., was limited to four game snaps last year, all handoffs at the end of a 66-7 blowout at Purdue. While Carr flashed his advanced passing talent in the 2024 Blue-Gold Game, this spring marks his first chance to run with the first-team offense, such as it is.
Switching from No. 12 to Leonard’s old No. 13 jersey has helped put Carr at ease. That’s the number his dad, Jason Carr, wore at Michigan 30 years ago, and it’s the only number Carr has ever chosen for himself.
“Twelve was great; I just felt a little uncomfortable,” he said. “It was a weird transition. I’ve been ‘13’ all my life. Right now, I feel like I’m back at home.”
Friday’s session included a run-pass option where Carr made the right read and took off.
“That’s always fun in run fits,” he said, “when you can jaw a little bit at the defense when you make a play.”
After running the scout team for the first month as a freshman, Carr can feel the game slowing down.
“Early in my first year, it got to the point where you walk in Day One and you have a really complex defense, really complex offense, and it's a lot,” Carr said. “And you're thinking a lot. At this point, (Friday) I felt really good. Just like, ‘What's my read? Is it man? Is it zone?’ And then can I make the throw? Which I think I can make any throw I'm asked to.”
When in doubt, he could always take a quick look at his left hand.
“I just like keeping football simple,” he said, “keeping it concise.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football QB CJ Carr tries to make up for lost time
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