CJ Carr: proving he's more than just the numbers for Notre Dame

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr might be one of the younger starting quarterbacks in college football — but you wouldn’t know it from the way he plays.

The 20-year-old freshman has quickly become a trusted leader inside the Irish locker room. Through seven games, Carr has thrown for over 1,800 yards, 14 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. His interception rate is just a little over two percent — showing how smart and careful he is with the football.

His completion rate sits around 66%, and he’s averaging nearly 10 yards per pass attempt, ranking him among the most efficient quarterbacks in the country. According to ESPN’s QBR rankings, Carr is top-20 in the nation with a score of 77.3, a stat that measures how well a quarterback performs under pressure.

Carr’s maturity shows up in more than just the numbers. Against USC, it wasn't his best, but he kept the offense steady. He threw for 136 yards and a touchdown while letting the run game take over. But when Notre Dame faced NC State, he showed his range — 342 passing yards and 11 explosive plays of 15 yards or more.

Pro Football Focus even graded his game against Purdue at 93.4 — the highest single-game mark for a Notre Dame quarterback since they began tracking stats. Teammates and coaches say that poise has earned their trust.
Linebackers coach Max Bullough says, “He’s definitely earned the defense and the whole team’s trust — you can see it walking back from practice.”
And offensive lineman Joe Otting added, “he’s a great guy, always working, he raises the bar for this whole team and that’s what we really enjoy ourselves with.”
Still just a freshman, Carr is already proving that leadership isn’t about age — it’s about attitude. For CJ Carr, growth means more than talent; it’s about earning respect, staying calm under pressure, and leading one of the top offenses in the country.