Notre Dame’s fall camp won’t have the same headline-grabbing quarterback duel it did a year ago, but there’s still plenty to sort out on offense before the Irish open the 2026 season at Lambeau Field against Wisconsin on 42 days. The starting job belongs to CJ Carr after he beat out Kenny Minchey last fall and went on to start all 12 games, yet several other spots are very much up for grabs as Notre Dame tries to finish building out its offense.
The biggest traffic jam might be in the backfield. Junior Aneyas Williams is the most likely candidate to open as the No. 1 running back, but the depth chart behind him is wide open.
If fellow 2024 recruiting classmate Kedren Young is healthy, he could push Williams for the top spot. Redshirt freshman Nolan James Jr. and true freshman Jonaz Walton both made strong impressions in spring ball when they got their chances, and fall camp will also give the Irish their first look at Javian Osborne.
It’s a loaded group, and the battle for rotation snaps should be fierce.
Notre Dame also has a major decision to make at boundary receiver after losing Malachi Fields. Ohio State transfer Quincy Porter is back in the mix for fall camp and will compete with redshirt sophomores Micah Gilbert and Cam Williams.
Each brings the size, talent and tools to handle the job, but someone has to separate from the pack. There’s also the possibility that offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock leans on a rotation there instead of riding one player the way Notre Dame did last season.
Either way, camp should help sort out the order.
At slot receiver, the picture is just as interesting. Jaden Greathouse dealt with an injury-hit season, while Ohio State transfer Mylan Graham turned in a strong spring.
That has opened the door to a real competition for the starting slot role. Both players are expected to get plenty of run and both can make an impact at all three receiver spots, but Greathouse’s health questions give Graham a real chance to push for snaps and maybe even the No. 1 job.
Tight end looks a little clearer at the top. Redshirt junior Cooper Flanagan is sounding like “the guy” in that room, which shifts the focus to who will line up behind him.
Redshirt freshman James Flanigan, true freshman Ian Premer, Ty Washington, the former Arkansas transfer, and Jack Larsen all have a shot to carve out roles. Fall camp will be the proving ground for that group as they try to earn time next to Flanagan.
The other quarterback battle is the one to watch behind Carr. Redshirt freshman Blake Hebert is in the fight for the No. 2 job with true freshmen Noah Grubbs and Teddy Jarrard, who arrived in the summer. It’s a notable first for Marcus Freeman: he has a returning starter at quarterback for the first time in his tenure, but the player backing him up has not yet played a snap of college football.
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Notre Dame Coaches Who Left The Deepest Scars On USC And Army
Notre Dames coaching legacy is often measured in championships and national relevance, but the rivalries with USC and Army have always given that history extra bite. A look back at the programs most successful eras shows how much the men on the sideline shaped those matchups, with Lou Holtz, Brian Kelly, Frank Leahy and Knute Rockne all leaving their mark in games that Irish fans still remember well.
Holtz set the tone with a dominant run against USC, Kelly compiled a strong record there as well, and Leahys success against the Trojans came with the added weight of high-stakes games when both teams were near the top of the rankings. Rocknes place in the rivalry conversation stretches beyond USC too, because his teams also handled Army with the kind of edge that helped define Notre Dames early identity and still colors how those coaching eras are judged today. [Read more 🡒]
Zayden Gamble Just Teased Another Notre Dame DB Surprise
Notre Dames 2027 recruiting class already sits at 23 commits, and the defensive back group has been one of the more active areas of the board. Zayden Gamble added to that buzz on social media, hinting that there could be another DB coming into the fold and giving the Irish a little more intrigue in a class that is already taking shape.
The part that stands out is not just the possibility of another addition, but the way Gamble framed it, suggesting there is a name in mind even though nothing has been announced. For now, the Irish are left waiting on whether this is simply recruiting chatter or the lead-up to another flip that would give the secondary room to keep growing. [Read more 🡒]