Notre Dame Quarterback Steve Angeli Enters Transfer Portal Amid Competition

South Bend, Indiana — Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli has entered the NCAA transfer portal as a graduate transfer, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday. Angeli was competing for the starting position during the spring with underclassmen CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey after serving as the primary backup to Riley Leonard and Sam Hartman for the past two seasons.

Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 205 pounds, Angeli has played in 20 games over the last three years. He has completed 72.5% of his passes for a total of 772 yards, 10 touchdowns, and only one interception. His most notable performance came during the 2023 Sun Bowl, where he threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a decisive 40-8 victory against Oregon State.

Angeli stepped up in critical moments, including leading a pivotal scoring drive in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State, which helped secure Notre Dame’s place in the national championship game. His ability to perform under pressure showcased his potential as a starting quarterback.

With Angeli’s departure, the path is now clear for Carr, the No. 4-ranked quarterback recruit in the 2024 ESPN 300, to take the reins of Notre Dame’s offense. Carr had an impressive showing in the spring game, completing 14 of 19 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Minchey, who ranks as the No. 180 overall recruit in the 2023 ESPN 300, is also in contention for the starting job and has shown flashes of talent in his limited appearances.

“It’s crazy to think that you’ve got three guys that all can lead the program to a victory and be your starting quarterback,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman stated following the spring game. “So we’ll evaluate it. We’ll talk about it and have a discussion moving forward.”

Angeli’s decision to enter the transfer portal comes as he heads into his redshirt junior season with two years of eligibility remaining. He ranks as the No. 3 available quarterback in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, making him an attractive option for other programs, particularly Tennessee as it looks to transition from its current quarterback.

The NCAA transfer portal allows players to transfer between programs by notifying their school’s compliance office. Once a player’s name is submitted, it typically appears in the portal within 48 hours, allowing coaches from other schools to reach out.

The window for spring transfers opened on April 16 and will remain open until April 25. Graduate transfers like Angeli can enter the portal at any time, providing them more freedom than underclassmen. Historically, most players who enter the portal do not return to their previous institutions, and many are removed from their teams almost immediately.

Notre Dame will now prepare for the upcoming season, set to open against Miami, with either Carr or Minchey stepping into the starting role. Coach Freeman had previously acknowledged his preference for a two-quarterback battle moving into training camp for efficiency purposes. Angeli’s exit may help streamline that competition and allow for more focused preparation as the team approaches the 2025 season.