Marcus Freeman reflects on poaching CJ Carr from Michigan roots: 'It was a unique experience'

When CJ Carr was a four-star recruit out of Saline (Mich.), his Michigan roots were clear. His grandfather is national championship-winning UM coach Lloyd Carr, and his father also played football for the Wolverines.

During the recruiting process, Carr took three visits to Michigan, and the Wolverines were in his top three schools. However, he wound up committing to Notre Dame in June 2022 and signing with the Fighting Irish that following National Signing Day.

Marcus Freeman knew what he was dealing with in Carr as he sought his commitment. He called it a “unique experience” recruiting the grandson of the renowned Michigan coach – not to mention the fact that both of Carr’s parents attended Michigan, as did his mother’s father.

“That was a unique experience,” Freeman said Friday on ESPN’s College Football Live. “He committed, I think it’s [three] years ago now. It was a situation where you’re like, ‘Yeah, he is the grandson of Lloyd Carr. His father played at Michigan, mother went to Michigan. Her father played at Michigan.’ It was a unique experience. But at the end of the day, we’re all in this to support CJ.”

Lloyd Carr led Michigan to a national championship in 1997, which stood as the program’s last until Jim Harbaugh’s crew broke through to win it all in 2023. The Wolverines won five Big Ten championships under his watch and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

But when CJ committed to Notre Dame, Carr traded his Maize and Blue for Blue and Gold, sporting a Fighting Irish hat after CJ committed. It’s also worth noting Notre Dame and Michigan are preparing to renew their rivalry in 2026 and 2027.

In the meantime, CJ Carr is in the midst of a battle to become Notre Dame’s starting quarterback this season. He played in just one game last season as he sat behind Riley Leonard and Steve Angeli on the depth chart, meaning he was able to preserve a redshirt. But with Leonard now with the Indianapolis Colts and Angeli at Syracuse, Carr is going head-to-head against Kenny Minchey in Notre Dame’s quarterback battle as training camp approaches.

As for what Freeman wants to see out of the competition, he said he simply wants to see how each quarterback runs the offense. Carr is more of a pocket passer while Minchey presents more of a dual-threat.

“You want them to really just be the best version of themselves,” Freeman told Molly McGrath Thursday on SportsCenter. “Play within the offense and the scheme of what we ask them to do, take care of the football, make good decisions and have answers. We want to make sure they’re seeing things, they have answers, they can tell us why. But ultimately, you know what, just go out there and play.”