NFL Draft expert Todd McShay delivered one of the boldest endorsements yet for Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, elevating the redshirt sophomore into rare air among Fighting Irish signal-callers.
During a segment on his podcast, McShay made the bold statement that he thinks Carr is headed for “legendary” status.
“He’s the best quarterback (Notre Dame) has had during our lifetime,” McShay said on his podcast. “I think he has a chance to be absolutely sensational. I think CJ Carr is tracking toward being a legendary Notre Dame quarterback.”
The praise comes after Carr’s breakout 2025 campaign, his first as a full-time starter. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound product from Saline, Michigan, completed 195 of 293 passes for 2,741 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His 66.6% completion rate and 9.4 yards per attempt powered a 10-2 Notre Dame team that finished the regular season with 10 consecutive double-digit victories.
Carr’s passer efficiency rating of 168.1 ranked among the national leaders and set a modern program standard. He threw a touchdown pass in every game, the longest such streak by an Irish quarterback since 2014. Nine of those contests featured multiple scoring throws, underscoring his consistency under center.
One of his signature performances came at Arkansas, where Carr completed 22 of 30 passes for a career-high 354 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-13 rout. He piled up 294 of those yards before halftime, the most first-half production by a Notre Dame quarterback in more than a decade.
Against North Carolina State, he added 342 yards and two scores. A 299-yard, two-touchdown outing at Boston College further highlighted his ability to stretch the field.
Carr also contributed three rushing touchdowns on 41 carries for 33 yards, showing willingness to extend plays when protection broke down. The offense around him averaged 42 points per game and 7.3 yards per play, marks that ranked among the best in recent Notre Dame history.
A four-star recruit and grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, the young quarterback redshirted in 2024 after limited action behind Riley Leonard. He won the starting job in fall camp the following year and never relinquished it, guiding the Irish through a demanding non-conference slate that included early one-score losses to Miami and Texas A&M.
McShay’s comments arrived as Carr prepares for the 2026 season, when Notre Dame returns its starting quarterback and offensive coordinator for the first time under coach Marcus Freeman. Analysts already list him among early Heisman Trophy favorites and project him as a potential first-round NFL Draft selection.
The mechanical precision McShay has praised — clean footwork, timing and an easy release — was on display throughout 2025. Carr’s 14.1 yards per completion reflected an ability to hit chunk plays, while his low interception rate demonstrated poise rare for a first-year starter.
Notre Dame’s 10-2 finish left the program just short of the College Football Playoff. With Carr now battle-tested and surrounded by returning skill talent, expectations in South Bend have climbed sharply. His combination of accuracy, arm strength and decision-making has evaluators comparing him favorably to some of the program’s most accomplished passers of recent decades.
As the Irish look to end a long national championship drought dating to 1988, Carr stands at the center of those hopes. McShay’s assessment suggests the ceiling remains high for a quarterback still early in his college career.
Whether he ultimately joins the short list of true Notre Dame legends will be determined on the field this fall.
For now, the numbers and the expert praise have set a lofty standard for the redshirt sophomore to chase.
