Point/counterpoint: Will Notre Dame start a transfer quarterback in 2024?
Notre Dame graduate quarterback Sam Hartman is out of eligibility. That means the No. 1 question on Irish fans’ mind is who takes the first snap of the 2024 season. Will it be another transfer addition or an in-house candidate?
BlueandGold.com writers Todd D. Burlage and Jack Soble debated that in this week’s point/counterpoint.
Burlage: Minimal experience will make it a must
Like it or not, it’s a sign of the times. NIL opportunities and an increased transfer ease have left an exodus of talented college quarterbacks to the transfer portal an annual exercise.
With only one regular-season game and a bowl date all that remain for the Irish in 2023, it isn’t too early to peek ahead to the quarterback situation next season. In two of the last three years — Jack Coan in 2021 and Hartman in 2023 — Notre Dame found its starting quarterback in the transfer portal.
Given the limited experience returning for the Irish at the position next season, pulling a veteran leader and capable starter out of the portal is again the best option. None of this is an indictment of sophomore Steve Angeli or freshman Kenny Minchey.
Angeli efficiently completed 16 of 21 passes for 236 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in his first five appearances this season, while Minchey appeared in two games and completed both of his pass attempts. But in terms of returning game experience, that’s it. That’s not enough with a 2024 schedule that includes games at Texas A&M, at USC and home against Florida State.
Other than saying he will have four scholarship quarterbacks on the 2024 roster, Irish head coach Marcus Freeman hasn’t tipped his hand on any intentions for next season. But with little to no returning experience, there’s little doubt that 2024 will bring Notre Dame another transfer portal starter for the third time in four seasons.
Soble: An underclassman will win a competition
To be honest, I think you can flip a coin here. The answer depends on so many factors. Who’s available? Who interests Notre Dame? Who’s interested in coming to Notre Dame? Those are just the factors that matter in December and early January, when the Irish will likely acquire their starter if that’s the route they choose.
If the quarterback who arrives at Notre Dame is not a guaranteed starter like Hartman was, then the Irish have to ask themselves more questions. How is the new guy adapting to Notre Dame’s offense (this was an issue for Hartman this season)? How have Angeli and Minchey developed over the offseason? Is there a chance CJ Carr is instantly the best quarterback on the roster? That last one is unlikely, but until the Irish see him in spring camp, they can’t rule it out.
When Freeman revealed Notre Dame will bring in a transfer quarterback, my assumption was (and still is) that it will at least be someone who can contend for the starting job. If nothing else, it would be tough to find someone who wants to transfer to Notre Dame and has no interest in starting.
However, Angeli showed he can operate Notre Dame’s offense in game situations, and he looked quite good in fall camp. Minchey has an interesting combination of arm talent and athleticism. There is also real value in finding a multi-year starter at quarterback.
If this winds up being a competition, I like Angeli’s or Minchey’s chances. And as of right now, I like Angeli’s more than Minchey’s, especially after seeing how the former fared Saturday against Wake Forest.
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