Position Breakdown: A Look into the Notre Dame QB Room
- Noah Wehby
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Now that the 2026 football season is just over a month away, it is time to take a look at this new Notre Dame football roster. To start, let's take a look at the most important position, the quarterback.
Going into 2026, the QB position at Notre Dame has never been in a better spot than it is now. For years, Notre Dame fans grew frustrated with inconsistent play and a talent level that did not live up to the extremely high expectations of Notre Dame football. Although the position did deliver fan favorites like Ian Book and Riley Leonard, QBs at Notre Dame seemed limited in their ability to elevate a team. Now, those problems seem to be an element of the past, as CJ Carr returns as one of the best players in the country at the position.
Starter
CJ Carr
There is no question that Carr is the starter heading into next season. At this time last year, he was still in the middle of a hotly contested QB battle with now Kentucky starter Kenny Minchey. After a successful season in 2025, Carr is now one of the most highly touted QBs in the country. With lofty expectations, Carr will have the eyes of the entire country on him, watching to see if he lives up to the hype. Luckily for him, he has a tremendous supporting cast to help him along the way. He will first be protected by what could be one of the best offensive lines in college football. To add to that, he has a lot of returning weapons on the outside, reinforced by two new, exciting receivers from Ohio State. Coming out of summer camp, the noise circling Carr was focused on the deep understanding and command he now has of this offense. With a year of experience, Carr should be able to rely on his impressive mind for the game much more than his quality arm talent. With both working, there should be a noticeable improvement in his play from last season.
Last Season's Stats: 195 Pass Completions | 2,741 Passing Yards | 24 TD | 6 Interceptions
Backups
Blake Hebert
Going into his second season with the team, Hebert is likely the second-string QB in the Notre Dame depth chart. With two freshmen behind him, he has the second most experience working with Denbrock out of the entire QB room. While he may not have any elite traits to lean on, Hebert is a natural and fluid passer. In his spring game reps, he looked comfortable and in control of the pocket, proving he is capable of operating an offense. With even more time in Denbrock's system, that level of comfort and knowledge of the offense should only continue to grow. If he is called upon this season, there will be a step down from Carr, but he has shown glimpses of his ability to operate this Fighting Irish offense.
Noah Grubbs
Grubbs arrives at Notre Dame as a four-star freshman QB who will likely spend his first year on the scout team, learning the ins and outs of college football. Standing at 6'4", Grubbs has the prototypical size to become an elite pocket-passer. He combines that size with underrated athleticism, making him a dangerous playmaker in play-action and improvisational situations. Grubbs does have a lot to work on, however, as he needs to improve his overall arm strength and decision-making. Grubbs is at his best when he is in situations to add touch on the ball, lacking the arm strength to thread balls into tight spaces. Luckily for Grubbs, he will have the time and coaching necessary to continue to improve on these aspects of his game. In time, he may become a candidate to be the conductor of the Notre Dame offense in the future.
Teddy Jarrard
Outside of Carr, Jarrard may be the most exciting part of this QB room's future. Originally a 2027 prospect, Jarrard reclassified to the 2026 class, starting his college development a year early. Jarrard and Notre Dame surely hope that this decision will fast-track him into contending for a starting spot once Carr decides to head to the NFL. Jarrard is a tall pocket-passer who thrives when he is in rhythm. With fluid and clean mechanics, Jarrard is able to consistently get the ball off on time and on target. He does not project to be an above-average athlete, so he will likely do his damage from the pocket, where he can pick apart a defense with his elite placement.
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