Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 JANUARY 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY MIKE SINGER AND KYLE KELLY A fter 18 months of waiting, Notre Dame football's future quarterback is set to arrive later this month. Class of 2024 four-star CJ Carr will begin prac- ticing with the team Dec. 16. "I'll be there for the bowl game and however many bowl practices," Carr, a product of Saline (Mich.) High, told Blue & Gold Illustrated following a first- round playoff victory over Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer Oct. 27. Carr is taking advantage of NCAA By- law 14.2.1.1, which allows prospective student-athletes to begin practicing before the next semester begins, as long as the last semester has concluded. "A student-athlete may practice dur- ing the official vacation period immedi- ately preceding initial enrollment," the bylaw states, "provided the student has been accepted by the institution for en- rollment in a regular, full-time program of studies at the time of the individual's initial participation; is no longer en- rolled in the previous educational insti- tution; and is eligible under all institu- tional and NCAA requirements." Notre Dame's final examinations for the fall 2023 semester will conclude Dec. 15. By the time the Irish officially announce Carr as a member of the Notre Dame football program Dec. 20, he will have already had the opportunity to practice with the team for five days. The Irish expect Carr — who is the No. 3 prospect in Michigan, and the No. 15 quarterback and No. 209 over- all player nationally according to On3 — to sign with the university officially Dec. 20, the first day of the three-day FBS early signing window. Notre Dame faces Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on Dec. 29. Classes for the spring 2024 semester begin Jan. 16. Prospective student-athletes partici- pating in bowl practices have become common over the last few years. Most notably, 2022 class five-star quarter- back Nico Iamaleava started practicing with Tennessee about a week before he officially signed with the Volunteers. Carr's addition to the Fighting Irish roster has been a long time coming. He verbally committed to Notre Dame on June 9, 2022. He chose the Irish over 15 other Power Five scholarship offers, including Michigan, Alabama and Wis- consin. Carr is the grandson of former Michi- gan head coach Lloyd Carr. His father, Jason Carr, played quarterback for the Wolverines. The youngest Carr guided the Saline Hornets to a 9-2 record this past football season. They lost to 2025 class five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and Bel- leville (Mich.) High in the second round of the Division I Michigan playoffs. As a senior, Carr completed 199 of 285 passes (69.8 percent) for 2,787 yards with 24 touchdowns and 9 intercep- tions. He also had 40 carries for 242 yards and 9 scores. Carr joins an Irish scholarship quar- terback depth chart that includes rising junior Steve Angeli, rising sophomore Kenny Minchey and an expected fourth scholarship quarterback via the transfer portal. WHAT TO EXPECT LEADING UP TO SIGNING DAY In mid-December, Notre Dame had 23 commitments in its 2024 class, a group that ranked No. 10 in the country ac- cording to the On3 Industry Rankings. The expectation is that Notre Dame will not add any additional high school prospects to the class prior to the start of the early signing period Dec. 20. Head coach Marcus Freeman and Co. are more focused on adding a half-dozen or so transfer portal prospects. And another key focus is making sure the current commits remain solid with the Irish and actually sign with Notre Dame. Missouri had an outstanding season, finishing the regular season with a 10-2 record and as the No. 9 team in the Col- lege Football Playoff Rankings. The Ti- gers would like to flip Hannibal (Mo.) High's Aneyas Williams, an Irish pledge Coveted Quarterback Recruit CJ Carr Joins Notre Dame For Bowl Practice Carr, On3's No. 15 quarterback and No. 209 overall player nationally, is taking advantage of NCAA Bylaw 14.2.1.1, which allows prospective student-athletes to begin practicing before the next semester begins, as long as the last semester has concluded. PHOTO BY KYLE KELLY