QB Riley Leonard led the Notre Dame offense with great success in his lone year with the team. He spent three seasons with Duke before joining the Fighting Irish for his final year of eligibility. Now, with Leonard gone, there is an air of uncertainty about who will be Marcus Freeman’s next QB1.
Amidst the uncertainty, college football insider J.D. PicKell gave his prediction for Notre Dame’s starting QB position for the 2025 season.
CFB Insider Predicts Who Could Be Riley Leonard’s Successor at Notre Dame
On Friday, Feb. 7, PicKell shared his thoughts about Notre Dame’s QB1 situation. He talked about how CJ Carr, Kenny Menchie, and Steve Angeli will be fighting for the starting QB spot before predicting his favorite to win the battle.
“Notre Dame’s (QB1 situation) is tricky,” PicKell said. “You got CJ Carr, who folks have raved about since he was a recruit. You got Steve Angeli, we’re fans of him on this show, and Kenny Menchie, who doesn’t have quite the same amount of fanfare. Maybe just because of how his recruitment went.
“I think (Notre Dame’s new QB1) is Steve Angeli,” PicKell continued. “It’s hard to dismiss what happened in the Orange Bowl. The fact that he has stayed since Riley Leonard came in and was the guy last year.
“And the fact that in the Orange Bowl, when Riley Leonard goes down, Steve Angeli steps in there and essentially saves Notre Dame’s playoff life…..I think that Steve Angeli, and what he has done up to this point, he has earned the right to be a starter.”
Steve Angeli’s Collegiate Career
During his high school career, ESPN considered Angeli a four-star prospect, while Rivals.com and 247Sports dubbed him a three-star QB in the Class of 2022. He committed to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and appeared in two games during his freshman campaign.
Angeli was named as the backup to former QB Sam Hartman for the 2023 season. He put up 504 yards and seven TDs passing in nine games before making his first start during Notre Dame’s Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State.
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During the 2024 season, Angeli was once again second in Notre Dame’s QB depth chart behind Riley Leonard. He saw limited time on the field but was a key player in their Orange Bowl playoff victory over Penn State. He completed six of the seven passes he attempted for 44 yards and helped the team secure a crucial field goal right at the end of the first half.
Head coach Marcus Freeman now faces a difficult decision ahead of their spring game practice. After losing to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship, the next QB1 of the program could decide the future of the program and the possibility of earning redemption in the 2025 season.
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