CJ Carr

The Player

Physically, Carr is of average height and has a sturdy build that continues to develop. He looks noticeably stronger entering 2026 than he did during his first year as a starter, and his frame appears capable of handling the physical demands of a full season.

The foundation of Carr’s game is his football intelligence. As the grandson of legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, he’s been immersed in the game his entire life, and it shows. Carr processes information at an advanced level, working through progressions more quickly than most college quarterbacks while demonstrating an impressive understanding of route concepts and defensive coverages. He plays with decisiveness and rarely appears overwhelmed by what defenses present before or after the snap.

His mechanics are equally impressive. Carr has a compact throwing motion and an exceptionally quick release, and he consistently generates good velocity without wasted movement. His ball placement is one of his biggest strengths, particularly on layered throws between the numbers and along the boundary, where he routinely drops passes into tight windows with excellent touch.

The next step in his development is becoming more consistent when attacking the middle of the field and throwing on the move. While Carr is capable of making outstanding off-platform throws outside the pocket, he also misses routine opportunities that should be completions. Improving his accuracy and confidence in those situations will be an important emphasis in 2026.

Carr is also an above-average athlete within the pocket. He stands tall against pressure, shows the toughness needed to deliver throws with defenders closing in, and moves well enough to extend plays when necessary. He’s an adequate runner on scrambles and designed quarterback runs, but he’s not especially elusive or explosive in the open field. His mobility is an asset, but it’s unlikely to become a defining part of his game at the NFL level.

The biggest story line surrounding Carr in 2026 is how he’ll respond to a dramatically different offensive environment. With first-round running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price now in the NFL, much more of Notre Dame’s offense will rest on Carr’s shoulders. He’ll be asked to carry a heavier passing workload, elevate the players around him, and prove he can consistently win games when the offense flows primarily through his right arm.

The Projection

Carr enters his second season as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback with extraordinarily high expectations. If he takes the anticipated next step, he could legitimately enter the QB1 conversation in a loaded 2027 draft class. Unlike some of the other top quarterbacks in the class, however, Carr has another year of eligibility and could return to South Bend for the 2027 season.