Which Players On Notre Dame's Offense Can Breakout In 2025?

Spring football is in full swing, and the Irish roster is chomping at the bit to display what they can bring to the table in 2025. Following a magical season which saw Notre Dame reach the National Championship game, there will be plenty of personnel turnover on both sides of the football. Today, we'll take a look at players who can fill the void on the offensive side of the football and have massive breakout seasons.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

Jaden Greathouse

Greathouse may be the most obvious pick for the player with the most potential to break out in the 2025 season. Greathouse came to Notre Dame as a highly touted four-star receiver. Since arriving at Notre Dame, Greathouse hasn't turned into that go-to pass threat that many hoped he would be. This can be attributed to multiple things, mainly the lackluster passing offense the Irish have fielded. Either way, Greathouse finally showed what he could do at his best during the CFP semifinals and National Championship. In the Orange Bowl against Penn State, Greathouse made the offensive play of the game when he juked out his defender, caught the ball, and then made another man miss on his way to a 54-yard touchdown. That touchdown tied the game back up at 24. Not only did Greathouse make a great play to score a touchdown, he did it in the biggest moment of the entire season. The trend came up again a week later when Greathouse continued to make big plays in big moments against Ohio State in the National Championship. In that game, he scored his first touchdown by catching the ball in the middle of the field, spinning out of a tackle, and racing toward the endzone. The second touchdown came by way of a perfectly thrown ball courtesy of Riley Leonard that Greathouse caught over the shoulder in the corner of the endzone. These two touchdowns fueled a Notre Dame comeback which ultimately fell just short.

That two-game stretch for Greathouse is what many are looking forward to in 2025. It appeared as if Greathouse had finally put it all together, looking like a wide receiver that could be the first option in a solid passing attack. It will be contingent on the quarterback in 2025 for Greathouse's success, but any QB option for Notre Dame may be a better passer than Leonard was last year. That bodes well for Greathouse and the other receivers. Although the talent in the receiver room might be a step up compared to last year, a more consistent passer could be the catalyst to unlocking his full potential on a weekly basis.

Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey, or CJ Carr

Although this isn't just one player, it does point to the potential success Notre Dame's starting QB will have. It is still unknown who Notre Dame's QB will be next season. The coaching staff has been open about the fact that all three have been given the chance to win the position. Angeli could be the perceived favorite, as he's been around the program the longest and has had the most meaningful in-game experience. In those opportunities, Angeli has looked more than serviceable. Back in the Sun Bowl, Angeli threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns, displaying calmness and efficiency in his first career start. Angeli also played one possession against Penn State, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the game. He led the team down the field before halftime to give Notre Dame its first points of the game. Angeli is the veteran of the group who has patiently waited for this opportunity, and has proven on more than one occasion that the moment isn't too big for him.

Kenny Minchey does not get a lot of the buzz that has surrounded this QB battle, as Angeli and Carr are bigger names, but that doesn't mean he isn't capable. Minchey looked good in the Spring Game last year and is widely regarded as the "gunslinger" of the group. Despite a lack of in-game reps, Minchey has plenty of tools and is a polished passer. His ceiling might be higher than Angeli's, but the jury is still out on whether he's ready to lead the offense.

CJ Carr is the youngest of the group, but is easily the most highly-touted. He was a highly ranked player coming out of high school, and the hype was palpable from the second he stepped on campus. Coming off of a UCL injury, Carr is no doubt eager to prove his abilities this spring and compete for the starting nod.

Whoever the starter is, they will be in a prime position to succeed. All three are talented, with some being better at certain things than others. The best thing the starter will have going for them is the rest of the offense. Notre Dame brings in a lot of talented players on the offensive side of the ball that will make life easy for the QB. Jeremiyah Love is back, believed to be one of, if not the best, running backs in the country. As stated above, Greathouse is back, alongside Jordan Faison. Notre Dame also adds WIll Pauling and Malachi Fields as weapons, who are proven commodities that will surely improve the passing attack. Maybe most important of all, on paper, Notre Dame has one of the best offensive lines in the entire country. This will be crucial to protect a QB that doesn't have the mobility possessed by Riley Leonard. With a plethora of weapons and a strong offensive line, the next QB will have a lot around them to make their job easier. Angeli, Minchey, or Carr will be given a great situation to have success next season, and they are all talented enough to take full advantage.

Charles Jagusah

Notre Dame's offensive line was plagued with injuries all of last season. Jagusah was the first to need surgery over the summer. Although his season was thought to be over, he was able to play and contribute to Notre Dame's playoff run. Before his injury, Jagusah was slated to be the team's starting left tackle. When he returned, it wasn't at left tackle, he came in to play at left guard. Yes, there were times where he looked rusty, but he also showed flashes of his immense talent. Jagusah looked better than many probably expected given the circumstances. It was a tough ask to play the first minutes of his season against the best defense Notre Dame played all year. Now, it is still up in the air what position he will play next year. He may return to his original position at tackle or find a new home in the interior of the line at guard.

Although his position has yet to be decided, Jagusah looks to play a big role next season, and now has a full off-season to hone his skills. The coaching staff has already been singing his praises in spring camp, showing that Jagusah is catching eyes since they last saw him. Jagusah's breakout season may have come last year if he hadn't gotten hurt, but now he has another off-season to keep improving. Jagusah will be an important part of next season's line. His versatility gives the coaching staff options, but Jagusah seems poised to have a successful season at any position.

Although these are just a few names, there are candidates for big seasons all over this offense. It still feels like another level exists within Jordan Faison's game, which would make him a truly special player. Wisconsin transfer Will Pauling may be in store for a good season as well. He is a great option when healthy, and has had experience under Mike Brown. The running back room is littered with talent that is ready to contribute to this offense. Love's breakout year was last season, and he will see the bulk of the carries, but it will be interesting to see what other players can provide, including Aneyas Williams and Gi'Bran Payne. Williams was just a freshman last year, and earned valuable snaps down the stretch. Payne was not able to play last year due to a knee injury, but he is plenty talented enough to help this offense. All of this without mentioning Jadarian Price, who would be the featured back on 95% of college teams this upcoming season.

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