Marcus Freeman 'really pleased' with Notre Dame quarterbacks

Spring practice has come and gone at Notre Dame in a year where the team is going to be adjusting to a new quarterback. That group, in particular, is one that head coach Marcus Freeman says he’s been pleased with.

Following the Blue-Gold Game, Freeman explained that he was happy with how all the quarterbacks performed, especially with their growth and decision-making.

“I was really pleased with what I saw,” Marcus Freeman said. “A lot of good, but you never want to turn the ball over, which we did. But I love the decision-making, just from being back there and watching them. Again, they’ve been progressing all spring.”

Notre Dame has four quarterbacks listed on its roster, with three being healthy enough to play in the Blue-Gold Game. CJ Carr, Kenny Minchey, and Steve Angeli were available for the game, with Minchey and Carr being live and full contact.

Having those players at full contact is something that Marcus Freeman feels is good for them, as well as for the defense itself.

“It’s good to have Kenny and CJ be live today. And I think it’s good for the defensive guys to realize that just because you get close to the quarterback, you realize it’s a lot harder to actually get a sack. Those guys love to yell ‘sack’ when they get close to the quarterback, but today it shows that you’ve actually got to bring the quarterback down and it’s not as easy as sometimes it may seem.”

Notre Dame’s fourth quarterback who missed the Blue-Gold Game is the presumed starter, Riley Leonard who transferred into the program from Duke. However, injuries have kept him from fully participating in spring.

“But I was really pleased overall in the entire spring of what all three of those guys have done with the groups they’ve been in there with and the production that they’ve really provided this offense,” Freeman concluded.

Marcus Freeman on Riley Leonard missing time in Spring

When Riley Leonard needed a second surgery on his ankle, Marcus Freeman explained the situation for Notre Dame’s quarterback.

“Riley Leonard will be out the next few weeks due to an additional surgery he had on his ankle on Friday – so, yesterday – to address a stress fracture that was beginning to develop. Basically, the surgery was to exchange the current plate he had in his ankle with a new one. The doctors are doing extremely well. The overall prognosis and health of his ankle is excellent. We’ll see when he can get back,” Freeman said.

“We’re not putting a timetable. We know it’s gonna be a few weeks, but we’re not saying he’s out for the spring. There could be a chance he comes back and participates in some capacity during spring ball.”