What Notre Dame adding Riley Leonard means for CJ Carr, Steve Angeli

Sam Hartman was such a success for Notre Dame, head coach Marcus Freeman had to go into the NCAA transfer portal for an ACC quarterback again. He was able to pull Duke‘s Riley Leonard to South Bend and he is expected to slot in as the starter immediately. A shakeup to the Fighting Irish’s quarterback room but a welcomed one.

Bringing in an experienced transfer portal quarterback with a highly-touted recruit in the same cycle is becoming more common across the country. On3’s Andy Staples compared it to the situation unfolding at Nebraska, with Kyle McCord and Dylan Railoa coming into the program.

Notre Dame has had a commitment from CJ Carr for quite some time and he will be on campus soon practicing ahead of the bowl game. Tyler Horka of On3’s Blue and Gold does not believe Leonard transferring in affects the youngster. If anything, Carr has a year to take a back seat and gain experience as a true freshman.

“I think CJ Carr is locked in,” Horka said during Tuesday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “It’s always nice when the guy is coming in as a true freshman because this is a 17, 18-year-old kid and Riley Leonard is Riley Leonard. He’s done all of these things at the college football level. So, if you’re CJ Carr, you say ‘This doesn’t really affect me right now.’ [Leonard] is a one-year rental. This time next year, we’re not talking about Riley Leonard.”

Carr played high school football at Saline (MI) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 59 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Future of Steve Angeli still uncertain with Riley Leonard transferring in

Now, Horka will not speak for other veteran quarterbacks Notre Dame has on the roster. Even if everyone, specifically Steve Angeli, makes it to spring practice without entering the portal, there is always the possibility of someone leaving.

Notre Dame saw it unfold last offseason seemingly out of nowhere.

“Tyler Buchner left in April last year,” Horka said. “We have to get to May or June with four quarterbacks on scholarship for me to say ‘These are Notre Dame’s guys.’ I’m not going to put it in sharpie that Steve Angeli will be here in July because we just don’t know. You got to get through a full spring practice.

“If Riley Leonard is light years ahead and Steve Angeli is like ‘I want to start somewhere right now in 2024’ he could leave.”