Notre Dame QB Commit Teddy Jarrard Reclasses From 2027 To 2026
As expected, Teddy Jarrard has decided to move forward with plans to reclassify, becoming the newest member of Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class, instead of 2027.
“It all completed up this morning,” one source told Irish Sports Daily.
The move has been trending in this direction for weeks and the Georgia quarterback has now made the final decision to make the switch after weighing the pros and cons.
While there were hurdles that needed to be cleared, sources indicated they have now been.
Jarrard will need to accelerate his high school credit load, something those close to him have said shouldn’t be a problem.
Jarrard will sign with the Irish in February and arrive in South Bend in June, only a six-month acceleration from his original plans to be an early enrollee as part of the 2027 class and report in January of 2027.
From a football standpoint, the upside of an earlier start is one of the biggest appeals. Getting immediate access to Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning and nutrition programs, along with day-to-day development under offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, is something Jarrard sees as a significant advantage.
The reclassification also alters the Notre Dame quarterback room.
With Kenny Minchey headed to the Transfer Portal, the battle to serve as CJ Carr’s backup for 2026 season is expected to be wide open.
Freshman Blake Hebert and incoming 2026 signee Noah Grubbs were viewed as the leading candidates, but adding Jarrard into that competition reshapes the dynamic.
Even if he does not win the backup role immediately, the move could better position Jarrard for the future. Whenever Carr leaves, Jarrard would have an extra six months inside the program under his belt and a clearer path to competing for the starting job.
That trajectory would not be unprecedented. Carr was not the backup in 2024 - and may not have even been the third quarterback - , but won the starting job during this past year’s preseason camp.
In conversations with multiple sources over the past weeks, there has been a consistent belief that the positives of reclassifying outweigh the potential drawbacks. With the decision now made, Jarrard will begin his accelerated path toward South Bend, one that should have ripple effects across Notre Dame’s quarterback room for years to come.
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