Elite 11 Finals: Notre Dame QB commit CJ Carr with a strong pro day showing
The first day of the Elite 11 Finals has 20 of the best rising senior high school prospects go through various stations of drills, while the following day sees the passers go through a pro day. The quarterbacks throw a total of 20 consecutive passes, ranging from short throws to a running back to balls downfield.
Saline (Mich.) High’s CJ Carr, a Notre Dame commit who comes into the event as the nation’s No. 45 overall player and No. 6 quarterback according to the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking, had a strong first day at the Elite 11 Finals, and he was even better on Thursday.
On3 deemed that 17 of Carr’s 20 throws were “accurate,” and although we have no idea what criteria the Elite 11 comes up with their scores from pro day, Carr’s was 44, which was tied for third-best on the evening. Alabama commit Julian Sayin had the best score at 49, Texas Tech verbal Will Hammond had 45 points, and Carr’s total tied with Georgia pledge Dylan Raiola.
Charles Power, the director of scouting and rankings at On3, listed Carr at No. 5 in his Day 2 top performers article.
“I thought Carr had one of the better pro day sessions that we saw on Thursday night,” Power told Blue & Gold after the session ended. “He was in the top five of the group. He was very refined, polished, and I think this is a setting that fits his skill set well. It showed on Thursday.
“I liked his footwork and rhythm. He was in concert with his feet and upper body. He was accurate to all levels as well. His arm strength registered in the middle of the pack, but the polish, timing and consistent release helped him replicate his throwing motion over and over. It led to a really steady showing.
“Some of the other quarterbacks’ throws would vary; it’d be a great throw or they’d spray a ball. Carr was very steady and accurate overall. It’s why he’s a top performer for us tonight.
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“This is not unexpected. This is a setting that plays to his strengths, and he lived up to the expectations this evening. It was a good showing for Carr. Through two days, he’s looked as I expected. He’s one of the more technically polished guys here, and I think he’s at his best when he’s in rhythm. When he has to improvise is where things can get a little dicey, but when he’s in rhythm, he’s very consistent.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him in 7-on-7 to wrap up this week. He’s been pretty good through two days, and you have to be pleased with what you’ve seen from him so far.”
If you’re wanting to analyze word-by-word what Power had to say about Carr, his comment about the Irish quarterback commit’s arm strength being in the “middle of the pack” might seem like a knock. However, being in the middle of the pack when it comes to 20 of the best quarterback prospects is actually pretty darn good.
Here is what Power wrote in his Day 2 top performers article about Carr:
“CJ Carr’s high level of technical polish was apparent in the pro day setting. The Notre Dame commit was very steady over the course of his script, with us charting him as accurate on 17 of 20 passes. Carr showed nice, clean footwork and was comfortable in his drops. His release and throwing motion are easily replicable, allowing for little variance on his throws. While some others had wild variance in velocity and location, Carr was steady across the board. His arm registers as middle of the pack in this setting, but his reliable mechanics made for a consistent showing in this structured setting – one that plays to CJ Carr’s strengths as a prospect.”
