Notre Dame identified the 2023 quarterback it wanted very early in the recruiting process, but for a variety of reasons things didn’t work out in the end, and now the Irish staff is moving on.
Make no mistake, Notre Dame needs a quarterback in the 2023 class, and although it’s late in the process, the Irish have a lot of work to do as they look to land that player. First, Notre Dame has the no. 1 ranked recruiting class in the country, and the offensive class is already impressive and will add even more in the near future. That makes being a quarterback in this class a very, very attractive option.
Notre Dame also has the benefit of searching for a quarterback in what is an incredibly deep year at the position. The 2023 recruiting class is absolutely loaded with talented prospects. Some are committed elsewhere, some are still uncommitted, but in both categories there are players that the Irish staff can and should pursue.
There are many options, so let’s look at them.
NAMES TO KNOW
CJ CARR – Any quarterback discussion for Notre Dame has to start with Carr because right now he’s the only player committed. From the moment of its execution, rumors of reclassification started. Carr may eventually decide to do so, but for now his plans are to remain in the 2024 class. But it’s worth at least a mention at the outset.
AUSTIN NOVOSAD – The Dripping Springs (Texas) High School standout is currently committed to Baylor, but the expectation has been for some time that he would not stick with the Bears. The reason is that other big programs have continued to get involved, with Ohio State being a program that makes a tough push and now the Irish are getting involved.
Novosad is ranked as the nation’s No. 136 overall player on the ground by Rivals, and he is the No. 1 quarterback. 9. He’s ranked No. 221 overall by 247Sports, but he’s moving up as a prospect. In two years as a starter, the 6-3, 185-pounder has passed for 6,072 yards and 75 touchdowns while throwing just 13 interceptions. Novosad has completed 64.5% of his passes over the past two seasons.
Film Analysis – Novosad is a tall and lanky center back with a nice frame. The first thing I noticed on film is that Novosad throws a very nice deep ball. He can throw it far, but more importantly, he shows impressive touch and accuracy throwing the ball downfield, something Notre Dame needs more of offensively. Novosad doesn’t have a ball, but he has a clean release, he gets a good chain on the ball, his accuracy is eye-catching and he’s a fearless centre-back who isn’t afraid to put the ball in tight spots. As he fills out his arm he will get stronger and once that happens his game will really take off.
When you watch Novosad’s film it’s clear that he has a good feel for the game. You can see him working through progressions quickly with his eyes and feet and he shows good timing as a passer. When he moves or faces pressure, he keeps his eyes down on the read, which allows him to make shots with defenders in the face.
Novosad is a pocket passer, but he’s light on his feet and if the defense loosens up or leaves an opening, he’s athletic enough to avoid pressure and then get away to move the chains. He also throws the ball with accuracy and good zip when on the run.
KENNY MINCHEY – Minchey is the lowest recruit on the board, but he’s also one of my favorites. The 6-2, 205-pound quarterback is from Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II, the same high school that produced former Notre Dame star Golden Tate. Minchey committed to Pitt in April and hasn’t taken a visit since. He seems happy with his decision, but I believe he would be interested in Notre Dame if the Irish staff pursues him.
Minchey is ranked as a four-star recruit by On3 and ESPN, with the latter ranking him as the No. 176 overall in the country. He earned offers from Tennessee, Michigan State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Houston before committing to the Panthers.
Film Analysis – If your main priority in a centre-back is that he is a player, then you will love Minchey. This is especially true if you like pocket players. Minchey had a growth spurt between his sophomore and junior seasons, growing at least an inch and a half and really filling out his frame. He’s still on the shorter side (a shade under 6-2), but he’s built strong and he possesses the type of frame to be a strong player from the pocket.
Minchey has a lower release point, more from the ear than from above. This can cause some problems at times as a pure pocket passer, but it also allows him to adjust his release point with ease, which makes him an effective thrower off the platform. This also adds to his style of play as a shooter because he gets through the shooting zone very quickly. Minchey does a very good job of varying his speed and wing angles, and his accuracy doesn’t drop when he does.
The star of Pope John Paul II has slight arm strength. It looks like he’s just moving the ball, but he gets where he needs to go in a hurry. Like Novosad, Minchey throws a beautiful and accurate deep ball, and he is an aggressive passer who is willing to put the ball in tight areas. Minchey makes extremely quick decisions and his anticipation is top notch. Minchey is a good athlete who can make more plays with his feet than he did in high school. He’s capable of running zone reads and being a chain mover as a scrambler, but he’s a pocket passer first and second.
BROCK GLENN – Glenn is a rising prospect who will likely surpass his current three-star ranking. Rivals has him as a four-star and the No. 204 in the country, but others are further behind now. The reason he’s likely to jump is because his arm talent and athleticism is very impressive, but he has a lot to prove in terms of production and consistency.
Scroll to Continue
Ohio State, Florida State, LSU and Auburn all offered Glenn this spring or summer and now the Buckeyes, Tigers and Seminoles are considered top contenders.
Film Analysis – In terms of pure wing talent, Glenn is arguably the best player on the roster. He has a powerful arm and has a very quick and clean shooting motion. He rushes the ball out and it bounces off his hand at good speed. His ability to shoot with power on the run also stands out and Glenn aggressively attacks the middle of the field.
Glenn still needs work on the finer points of the game. He can get loose with his mechanics on film, and when that happens, his ball placement goes down. He can change speed effectively, but he is not as accurate when slowing his arm down. He tends to throw high, which tells me his release point is consistently too early, but that can be fixed.
Glenn is also the best athlete on this list. He shoots well on the run, can make plays with his feet and is strong so he can avoid pressure and get away from throws when he steps up in the pocket.
*** Many more names could be added to the list as the Irish coaches continue to work through film and transcripts, but this is a very good starting point of players we expect the Irish staff to follow.
Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, Hall of Champions
Contents of the Irish division
Notre Dame 2022 roster
Notre Dame 2022 schedule
Notre Dame Class of 2023 Big Board
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board – Offense
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board – Defense
Notre Dame Scholarship Offers 2023
Notre Dame Scholarship Offers 2024
2022 Signing Rankings – Offense
2022 Signing Rankings – Defense
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which gives you access to all our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
BECOME A MEMBER
Be sure to stay tuned to Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Follow me on Gettr: @IrishBreakdown
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter