C.J. Carr’s growth and life after Jeremiyah Love: Notre Dame spring game storylines

Notre Dame’s spring game spotlights C.J. Carr’s development, the fallout from Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, and key roles forming across the offense and defense.

South Bend’s spring game is already carrying the weight of a season that starts with a specific question: can Notre Dame turn last year’s CFP sting into something bigger?

For the Fighting Irish, that urgency is personal.. After finishing 10-2, Notre Dame became the committee’s first team left out.. The program withdrew from bowl consideration and, by its own leadership’s account, couldn’t keep burning the same energy.. Marcus Freeman’s messaging was clear: the focus would shift immediately toward 2026—an approach that makes this weekend’s evaluation sessions feel less like a spring formality and more like a preview of how the Irish intend to reload.

Life without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price

One of the most immediate storylines sits in the backfield.. Notre Dame is entering the spring game with only two fully healthy scholarship running backs available—Nolan James Jr.. and Jonaz Walton—after injuries and roster departures left gaps at a position that produced heavily in 2025.. Aneyas Williams is expected to handle the RB1 workload following an efficient sophomore run that included multiple scores. but the real test is what happens behind him.

If the offense is going to hold its identity without the production that came from Love and Price last season. the younger depth group has to show both reliability and readiness.. James. a redshirt freshman. will see snaps. while Walton—along with Javion Osborne. another early enrollee—should also get reps that matter.. Even the recovery of Kedren Young. returning from a torn ACL suffered previously. adds a timeline wrinkle that makes spring reps more than just evaluation; they’re groundwork for fall depth.

From a football standpoint, one area bears watching closely during the spring game: pass protection.. Newer or less-established backs can earn more playing time quickly if they communicate well. pick up blitzes cleanly. and stay dependable in protection schemes.. It’s also the type of detail coaches can’t hide—good reps show up even when the play calling changes.

C.J. Carr development becomes the centerpiece

The headline development track, though, centers on C.J.. Carr.. Notre Dame’s quarterback arrived with measurable results from his first season as a starter. finishing with 2. 741 passing yards. 24 touchdowns. and six interceptions.. His passer efficiency rating of 168.1 reinforced the idea that this wasn’t just “system success”—the Irish had production that translated.

Carr’s next step is about growth in context.. A 10-2 record as a redshirt freshman built expectations. but it also sets up the storyline that Notre Dame needs: continued precision while defenses adjust.. Freeman’s comments emphasize Carr’s physical talent. but the more revealing part is how he impacts the offense’s options based on what the defense shows.. In a program chasing a return to playoff-level relevance. that’s the skill set that keeps drives moving even when explosive plays are harder to find.

This is also where the 2026 outlook sharpens.. Carr will be draft-eligible after the season. meaning the spring game isn’t only about internal confidence—it’s about building a resume arc.. If he can look comfortable in different looks. manage pressure. and keep the offense organized when timing windows tighten. Notre Dame will have a quarterback storyline that matches its national aspirations.

Beyond Carr: nickel role, offensive line shifts, and a young receiver push

Even with Carr’s growth in the spotlight, Notre Dame’s spring game matters because multiple units are forming the “supporting cast” that can either extend or limit an elite ceiling.

Defensively, Christian Gray’s potential move into a nickel role is one of the staff’s most meaningful adjustments.. Gray’s experience is already extensive—he has played more defensive snaps over the last two seasons than any other defender on the roster. giving the coaching staff a reason to believe he can handle the mental and physical demands of the nickel spot.. The nickel position is not just another alignment; it changes how you read formations. identify routes. and manage involvement against both the run and pass.. Gray’s emphasis on learning eye progression and the “whole formation” speaks to that.. And with Dallas Golden and Jayden Sanders also getting reps. the spring looks like a test for who can stabilize the front line in space.

On offense. the offensive line is undergoing its own sorting process. and it’s the kind that fans might not always notice until it’s missing.. Freeman and the staff have been tinkering. and last week’s scrimmage offered a good look at what could become the projected first-team unit.. The left side is a particular focus: Anthonie Knapp moving from left tackle to guard to accommodate redshirt freshman Will Black at tackle is a reminder that Notre Dame is trying to stack its best blockers together rather than force-fit positions.

The right side also carries weight with Guerby Lambert taking over for team captain Aamil Wagner. adding another continuity question—especially in pass protection where footwork and communication have to click under pressure.. When you see a team prioritize these swaps during spring. the message is practical: the Irish don’t want to wait until the season to fix fundamentals.

Finally, the wide receiver rotation adds intrigue.. Devin Fitzgerald—son of Larry Fitzgerald—has been climbing the depth chart and scored two long touchdowns during a scrimmage.. Even though those plays didn’t come against Notre Dame’s starting secondary. coaches don’t ignore the signal: big-play ability can shift a receiver’s trajectory quickly. especially when the program has questions beyond the expected starting group.

The competition around the position includes players like Quincy Porter and Mylan Graham, plus freshman Kaydon Finley.. And for a spring game. that rotation matters because it shows how quickly the coaching staff trusts younger or less-proven players when games tighten.. A team that wants to contend can’t rely on one receiver narrative; it needs multiple options to stay unpredictable.

In the end, Notre Dame’s spring game is about more than one unit proving itself.. It’s a set of parallel adjustments—backfield depth replacing last season’s production. Carr continuing a development track that already looks promising. defensive alignment changes meant to sharpen matchups. and line/receiver groundwork that could determine whether 2026 feels like a rebound or another near-miss.