Notre Dame Notebook: Gerad Parker Talks Young Quarterbacks, Braylon James, Freshman Linemen

Notre Dame has an important decision to make in the very near future. The Fighting Irish plan to bring in a quarterback from the transfer portal for the second straight year. Who that is and what his impact will be on the team’s 2024 quarterback depth chart is yet to be determined.

The Irish have two young quarterbacks, Steve Angeli and Kenny Minchey, on the roster with a third, highly touted commit CJ Carr set to join the team soon. Sam Hartman’s arrival last offseason sent a ripple through the quarterback room when first Drew Pyne and then Tyler Buchner, who combined to take all of last season’s snaps, transferred.

Hartman took all of the team’s high leverage snaps this season, but Steve Angeli was allowed to run the full offense and not just handoff and kill the clock when he appeared in six games in relief of the veteran. The sophomore gave Irish offensive coordinator Gerad Parker plenty to evaluate.

"There is a lot of belief in Steve Angeli to be honest with you,” Parker said this week. "I'll take all of it when it doesn't go well, but just like the last one he threw, I didn't call that play. We had a different set on. He checked to the play because he saw man coverage and they brought 'Saw zero.' They brought Saw zero, he gives a little 'hootie hoo,' taps it out and does his deal because he's empowered to do so, and he did it and lit it up. Touchdown. That's a quarterback play and being prepared from Gino to do so. And he felt empowered enough to not come over to the sideline and be like, 'Coach, are you mad that I—' No. They brought Saw 0 and you knew the adjustment. He's good."

Angeli has completed 19 of his 24 pass attempts for 272 yards in his six relief outings. The sophomore has four touchdown passes and no interceptions heading into the regular season finale against Stanford.

Kenny Minchey

While at least some of Angeli’s development has been on display on Saturdays freshman Kenny Minchey has worked more behind the scenes at practice. Minchey took the final snaps in lopsided wins over Tennessee State and Pittsburgh but Parker has observed a lot more from the freshman over the course of the last four-plus months of his college career.

"Great promise,” Parker stated when asked about Minchey. "When you start, you’re like, ‘Man, OK, what’s this (demeanor)?' You didn’t know because he is super chill. But there is a lot there. He has gained a lot of respect from the guys in the locker room. He has strong arm talent, really studies. Has become a part of that quarterback room. Those guys hang out a lot because they spend a lot of time around the place to study and prepare. So, really happy there.”

Braylon James

While freshman receivers like Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores, Jr and even former walk-on/lacrosse player Jordan Faison have had splashier rookie season, Braylon James has continued to make his own strides. James made his first (and so far only) catch against Pittsburgh for 12 yards but he has played in four games total, which would allow him to also play in Notre Dame’s bowl game and still preserve a year of eligibility.

"Braylon James has continued to improve and work,” Parker remarked. "Just has to continue to develop, absolutely. I think you guys know that. Braylon has stayed in it. Stayed with us and stayed with the older guys to learn how to continue to develop to get there. Really pleased with him. As far as what he’s going to have to do to develop, those young guys need bowl practice, need spring practice, need summer development, and it’s going to be good for them. Coach Freeman probably puts it best; those young players, you can’t compare yourself to where another person is in your class or where other guys are. This is your road. This is your bumpy road to better. Stay on your road, get better and improve. I think if that happens, young players, you see them turn into really good players. He has that possibility.”

Freshman Offensive Linemen

Among freshman offensive linemen Chris Terek, Charles Jagusah, Joe Otting, Sam Pendleton, and Sullivan Absher, only Pendleton (Pittsburgh) has played in a game this season.

"Those guys show great promise,” Parker said of the freshman linemen. "What they’ve done for the defensive scout team, looks, and what they’ve done for our defense has been a lot of compliments from the defensive staff, and there is a lot of promise there.

"A couple of those guys because we had two bye weeks got a lot of work,” Parker continued. “Jagusah, Otting, all those guys, they’ve all kind of stepped up and played roles. Had to snap the football with (Otting). I’m trying to think of when they did. But I know Jagusah had to come up and do some stuff to fill in. Sam Pendleton and Sully, all those guys, we feel really good about those guys as young linemen. They needed to redshirt and needed some time but it’s going to be fun to see them develop.”