Why Brady Quinn views Notre Dame QB commit CJ Carr as future first-round NFL Draft pick

A surprise visitor appeared on the screen for class of 2024 quarterback CJ Carr‘s commitment reveal on CBS Sports HQ Thursday night. Notre Dame Fighting Irish faces know the face well.

It was former Irish quarterback Brady Quinn.

Right after Carr committed to Notre Dame, Quinn popped up on the stream. He congratulated Carr, telling him he just went through with “the best decision (he’ll) ever make.” Quinn made the same decision 20 years ago. He played for the Irish from 2003-06 and set 36 Notre Dame QB records at the time of his departure from the program. He has still thrown for more yards (11,762) and touchdowns (95) than any QB in Notre Dame history.

Quinn was selected No. 22 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2007 NFL Draft. He said Carr has the talent to undoubtedly follow in his footsteps. He applauded Carr for being “much further along” than he was as a heralded recruit out of Dublin (Ohio) Coffman in 2003.

“I think he’s going to be the next guy in line that ends up having an incredible career there and moves on to be a first-round pick in the NFL out of Notre Dame,” Quinn said. “He’s that good. He’s that polished at the high school level right now.

“Just seeing him throw, you can already see all those traits. He’s one of those guys that when you see him play, it’s easy to give him that five-star grade. You know exactly what you’re dealing with with his skillset when you turn on the tape and watch how good he is.”

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Carr is a four-star prospect according to every major recruiting service, including On3. With two years left to play at Saline (Mich.) High School, he has time to earn five-star status. He’s already the No. 5 quarterback in his class according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Carr went against family tradition in choosing Notre Dame. His grandfather is Lloyd Carr, the last head coach to win a national championship (1997) with the Michigan Wolverines. He won 122 games as the man in charge of the maize and blue. Carr’s maternal grandfather, Tom Curtis, and his own father, Jason Carr, played at Michigan. His mother is also a graduate of the university.

“They’re probably pretty upset,” Quinn said. “This is one of those you feel like is a shoe-in. But the thing you have to give CJ credit for is he was able to go out and say, ‘I want to create my own path. I want to go out and try something different.’ There is no doubt about it — Notre Dame is unique. It’s different. It’s not for everyone out there.

“You heard him thanking God and his spirituality (during his commitment). That’s part of it. You heard him talk about the Ivy League education at a Power Five school. That’s part of it. All of that plays a factor into it.”

Ohio State never stopped recruiting Quinn even after he committed to Notre Dame prior to his senior year of high school. Quinn stuck with his original choice, and it paid dividends. He expects Carr to do the same because of how fruitful it could turn out to be for the young signal caller.

“To me, it’s the mental aspect of things,” Quinn said. “When you talk to Marcus Freeman, when you talk to Tommy Rees, that’s what they’re wowed by. He comes in as a coach’s grandson, if you will, knowing the game of football. He understands exactly what a defense is trying to do and how to attack that defense. So the mental aspect of the game won’t be too much for him. He’ll be young coming in there, but I think he has a lot of high aspirations, and rightfully so. The sky is the limit for this young man.”