(Notre Dame) — If Notre Dame’s offense were a video game, the cheat code would be CJ Carr.

That was evident at Notre Dame’s “jersey scrimmage” Saturday. Carr, the redshirt sophomore from Saline, Michigan, looked far different than the young man who barely won the quarterback job over Kenny Minchey last fall. He was in complete command, dissecting the Irish defense with on-target throws all over the field.

“More than anything he does with his physical talent, the ability he has to put our offense in position to have success because of what the defense is presenting is probably one of his greatest traits,” stated Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman afterwards. “You don’t have to have a coach tell you everything. He’s able to understand the play, he’s able to see what the defense is doing and put us in a position that usually ends up in a positive play.”

Many of those positive plays today were completions to Jordan Faison, who made six grabs including a 45-yard deep ball where he beat cornerback Mark Zackery IV in man coverage.  The connection that developed between quarterback and receiver last season has only become stronger this spring.

“That’s one consistent football player,” lauds Freeman, when asked about Faison. “Great players are consistent. What he did today is what he’s done all spring. Where’s he  has been able to get his level of play to gives him the chance to elevate even more.”

With it being a day of tackling, Nolan James, Jr. got the bulk of the first-team reps at running back, as Aneyas Williams still protects his elbow. James showed an uncanny ability of finding ways to pick up extra yards, especially after contact, as he showed when he scored on the opening goal line drill of the day.

“I’ve seen that since he stepped in the building,” noted Freeman. “He’s got a unique build. He has great contact balance. He’s hard to bring down. His brother is probably the best wrestler in the country for his age, and I tell Nolan he’d be a heckuva wrestler if he wrestled.”

As far as the second and third team offense is concerned, Noah Grubbs took all the snaps, as Blake Hebert sat out with a “minor” knee injury that he suffered in Friday’s practice. Grubbs  benefitted from the speed and hands of freshman Devin Fitzgerald, who made two touchdown grabs…one on a slant-and-go where he raced 65 yards and the other on twisting catch to stay in bounds in the end zone. While Fitzgerald currently does not appear to be in the top six of Notre Dame’s receiving depth chart, Freeman is not counting him out either.

“Here’s the mindset our guys must have…you have to master what you get,” notes Freeman. “I don’t care if it was against the threes, he made some big plays today. He’ll continue to be put in elevated positions to show what he can do against better competition. He’s made big plays like that throughout the spring.”

The defense had its moments, as Luke Talich came up with an interception…and in vintage Talich form, nearly turned it into a pick-six.

“You’ve got to be really intelligent to be able to grasp everything you’re asked to do at multiple positions,” Freeman says of Talich. “You’ve got to have a unique skill set to do multiple positions. Luke Talich has both of those. He has a physical body to play linebacker or nickel. He’s athletic enough and fast enough to play safety. We’ve got to find ways to get Luke Talich on the field.”

Defensive tackle Tionne Gray splitting a double team for a run stop, Rodney Dunham with a tackle for loss and sacks by Boubacar Traore and Ebenezer Ewetade were some of the other defensive highlights. Freeman also lauded the play of linebackers of Jaiden Ausberry and Teddy Rezac, who each made multiple tackles today.

Placekicker Spencer Porath was a perfect nine-for-nine in field goals today, with a long of 47. Porath also had the pressure put on him at the end of the scrimmage. Freeman rigged the score to be tied. A make would win for the offense. A defense would give the blue jerseys to the defense. Even with Jaylen Sneed doing jumping jacks and yelling at him just two yards to his right, Porath drilled the 40-yarder to officially give the offense the win.

“Spencer has been as consistent as any kicker we’ve had,” praises Freeman. “He’s done a good job learning how to kick with a new holder and Jasper (Scaife) has done an unbelievable job learning how to hold. That’s something new to him. Plus, Jasper has a huge leg and he’s learning how to punt American football and he’s done a good job with that.”

Overall, Freeman felt the rare chance to put his #1 offense vs. the #1 defense was the highlight of the day.

“The defense rotates a lot more than the offensive line with the first group.,” admits Freeman. “So now you’re going to be able to evaluate all those defensive guys against your #1 offensive line. You evaluate all your offensive linemen against different types of defensive lineman. That’s the intention of going good on good.  I think this is a great day for evaluation.”

Fans will get a chance to make their own evaluations a week from today when Notre Dame plays the annual Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Tickets areb available.