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SOUTH BEND — Now in his third spring with Notre Dame football, Kenny Minchey’s editing skills have come to the fore.
As the quarterbacks meet to review the practice script just before walking out, it often falls to Minchey to spot the stray typo.
“Oh, mentally, Kenny’s on it now,” quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli said after a recent practice. “When the coach is making a mistake on the script, Kenny’s going to be the first one to say, ‘Hey, on Play 12, is that supposed to be … ’ “
Guidugli smiled at the memory.
“’ No, Kenny, you’re right. That was supposed to be this,’ “ Guidugli said, recounting his response. “He’s really locked in that way, has great questions, and just loves football. Football guy.”
Perfect on the only three passing attempts of his Irish career, Minchey is more than just the athletic alternative to Steve Angeli and CJ Carr in this three-way quarterback competition. The former top-175 national recruit from Hendersonville, Tenn., has shown a complete grasp of the offense, now in its second season under coordinator Mike Denbrock.
”You hear him at practice and in the film room,” Minchey said. “You know he wants us to take shots. He wants us to push the ball down the field because obviously, you have to do that to be successful in college football.”
That’s music to Minchey’s ears. He’s the one with the “gunslinger” mentality, as Guidugli has said, not to mention a rocket arm with 70-yard range.
At least that’s how Minchey remembers it from the last time former Irish quarterback Sam Hartman egged him into a long-heave contest with their fellow Irish quarterbacks.
“We would always go back and forth,” Minchey said.
Considering the run/pass profile of Denbrock’s primary quarterbacks at his past three stops – Riley Leonard last year, Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at LSU, and Desmond Ridder at Cincinnati – it doesn’t take much squinting to imagine Minchey as the most seamless fit in this succession plan.
“With some plays we have, allowing us as quarterbacks to move around, read some of the defensive linemen, get around on the edge, I feel that probably suits me pretty well,” Minchey said. “Seeing (Denbrock) come from LSU with Jayden Daniels, you see what the pinnacle is for what his offense can bring.”
CJ Carr: Young QB hopes to know Notre Dame football offense like the back of his hand
Now listed at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, throwing shoulder issues from early 2023 well in his past, Minchey is splitting first-team practice repetitions with the other two starting candidates.
Back in October 2023, when Notre Dame was prepping for Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, it was Minchey who drew raves from Irish coaches and players for his scout-team ability to replicate Williams’ scrambling and downfield passing.
What’s the key to being accurate on the move?
“From a quarterback’s perspective, it’s all about your mechanics and it’s something you have to work on,” Minchey said. “One small movement of the way your shoulders are tilted or the way your hips are angled, the ball could sail or go in the dirt. It’s all about being comfortable and trying to stick to your mechanics when throwing on the move, which is a very hard thing to do.”
He added: “Some guys make it look easy, but it’s very difficult.”
And that eye for detail in the practice script? That’s an offshoot of how much practice time Minchey was afforded in his first two fall camps, thanks to Notre Dame’s decision to invest developmental time in his future.
“Even though he doesn’t have that game experience, he’s ahead of the curve,” Guidugli said. “That true freshman season (2023), he got a bunch of reps that true freshmen really don’t ever receive.”
Jadarian Price: How backup running back stays on track for Notre Dame football in the portal era
Last year was a chance to learn from Leonard and the way he confounded opponents with his running ability, both in the open field and in short-yardage conversions at the goal line and on money downs.
“Kenny might argue with me that he's as good as a runner as Riley, but I don't know,” coach Marcus Freeman said with a smile.
How often does that topic come up?
“Maybe a couple times,” Minchey said. “I’d say last year, me and Riley joked about it here and there. We were never really able to race each other.”
Who would win a footrace?
“I think we might tie,” Minchey said. “Maybe (we have) the same athleticism.”
As Leonard prepares to start his pro career, Minchey was asked which current NFL quarterbacks he most relates to with his skillset and aspirations. His choices were hardly obscure names.
“I would love to be as good of a decision-maker as Joe Burrow,” Minchey said. “I feel like he’s always putting the ball in the right spot.”
For playmaking ability and versatility, Minchey cited Patrick Mahomes. As for mobility, the gold standard remains Lamar Jackson.
“I’m not going to compare myself to him, but he’s obviously very fun to watch,” Minchey said. “The way he makes defenders miss, I love that about him.”
There’s plenty to dream on about Minchey as well.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football has a rocket-armed technician in QB Kenny Minchey
Continue reading...
As the quarterbacks meet to review the practice script just before walking out, it often falls to Minchey to spot the stray typo.
“Oh, mentally, Kenny’s on it now,” quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli said after a recent practice. “When the coach is making a mistake on the script, Kenny’s going to be the first one to say, ‘Hey, on Play 12, is that supposed to be … ’ “
Guidugli smiled at the memory.
“’ No, Kenny, you’re right. That was supposed to be this,’ “ Guidugli said, recounting his response. “He’s really locked in that way, has great questions, and just loves football. Football guy.”
Perfect on the only three passing attempts of his Irish career, Minchey is more than just the athletic alternative to Steve Angeli and CJ Carr in this three-way quarterback competition. The former top-175 national recruit from Hendersonville, Tenn., has shown a complete grasp of the offense, now in its second season under coordinator Mike Denbrock.
”You hear him at practice and in the film room,” Minchey said. “You know he wants us to take shots. He wants us to push the ball down the field because obviously, you have to do that to be successful in college football.”
That’s music to Minchey’s ears. He’s the one with the “gunslinger” mentality, as Guidugli has said, not to mention a rocket arm with 70-yard range.
At least that’s how Minchey remembers it from the last time former Irish quarterback Sam Hartman egged him into a long-heave contest with their fellow Irish quarterbacks.
“We would always go back and forth,” Minchey said.
Considering the run/pass profile of Denbrock’s primary quarterbacks at his past three stops – Riley Leonard last year, Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at LSU, and Desmond Ridder at Cincinnati – it doesn’t take much squinting to imagine Minchey as the most seamless fit in this succession plan.
“With some plays we have, allowing us as quarterbacks to move around, read some of the defensive linemen, get around on the edge, I feel that probably suits me pretty well,” Minchey said. “Seeing (Denbrock) come from LSU with Jayden Daniels, you see what the pinnacle is for what his offense can bring.”
CJ Carr: Young QB hopes to know Notre Dame football offense like the back of his hand
Approximating Caleb Williams back in 2023
Now listed at 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, throwing shoulder issues from early 2023 well in his past, Minchey is splitting first-team practice repetitions with the other two starting candidates.
Back in October 2023, when Notre Dame was prepping for Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, it was Minchey who drew raves from Irish coaches and players for his scout-team ability to replicate Williams’ scrambling and downfield passing.
What’s the key to being accurate on the move?
“From a quarterback’s perspective, it’s all about your mechanics and it’s something you have to work on,” Minchey said. “One small movement of the way your shoulders are tilted or the way your hips are angled, the ball could sail or go in the dirt. It’s all about being comfortable and trying to stick to your mechanics when throwing on the move, which is a very hard thing to do.”
He added: “Some guys make it look easy, but it’s very difficult.”
And that eye for detail in the practice script? That’s an offshoot of how much practice time Minchey was afforded in his first two fall camps, thanks to Notre Dame’s decision to invest developmental time in his future.
“Even though he doesn’t have that game experience, he’s ahead of the curve,” Guidugli said. “That true freshman season (2023), he got a bunch of reps that true freshmen really don’t ever receive.”
Jadarian Price: How backup running back stays on track for Notre Dame football in the portal era
Last year was a chance to learn from Leonard and the way he confounded opponents with his running ability, both in the open field and in short-yardage conversions at the goal line and on money downs.
“Kenny might argue with me that he's as good as a runner as Riley, but I don't know,” coach Marcus Freeman said with a smile.
How often does that topic come up?
“Maybe a couple times,” Minchey said. “I’d say last year, me and Riley joked about it here and there. We were never really able to race each other.”
Who would win a footrace?
“I think we might tie,” Minchey said. “Maybe (we have) the same athleticism.”
As Leonard prepares to start his pro career, Minchey was asked which current NFL quarterbacks he most relates to with his skillset and aspirations. His choices were hardly obscure names.
“I would love to be as good of a decision-maker as Joe Burrow,” Minchey said. “I feel like he’s always putting the ball in the right spot.”
For playmaking ability and versatility, Minchey cited Patrick Mahomes. As for mobility, the gold standard remains Lamar Jackson.
“I’m not going to compare myself to him, but he’s obviously very fun to watch,” Minchey said. “The way he makes defenders miss, I love that about him.”
There’s plenty to dream on about Minchey as well.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football has a rocket-armed technician in QB Kenny Minchey
Continue reading...
