Trainer | Reclass Was Right Move For Notre Dame QB Signee Teddy Jarrard

Notre Dame moved one of its most important quarterback pieces into place last week, when Teddy Jarrard‍ officially signed with the Irish and finalized his reclassification into the 2026 class.

The Georgia quarterback made the decision to accelerate his timeline after extensive evaluation and discussion, a move his longtime personal quarterback coach Ron Veal believes fits both Jarrard’s development and long-term goals.

“I think it was a great decision for him to do what he did,” Veal told Irish Sports Daily. “It puts him on campus a little earlier than the class he would’ve attended. It gives him a chance to learn the offense and to change his body. I think that’s a plus-plus.”

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder played extensive football over the last three seasons, rarely coming off the field in the absence of several blowout games, which can be typical at the high school level. 

Veal believes that situation helped make him uniquely prepared to move on.

“I think his body and his makeup for high school football has to go and be challenged,” Veal said. “I think college is what’s going to challenge him more than high school. The faster he can learn the game of college while he’s sitting and learning and getting stronger, I think that just benefits him more.”

The Kennesaw, Ga. native, logged heavy game reps throughout his sophomore and junior seasons at both North Cobb High School in 2025 and North Cobb Christian in 2024, a factor Veal pointed to repeatedly when explaining why reclassifying made sense for Jarrard, even if it wouldn’t for every quarterback in a similar position.

“Some kids could use an extra year,” Veal said. “But Teddy played a lot of football this season and he got a lot of reps, a lot of game reps. I think they only had maybe a couple of blowout games. So by him going to college early, it helps him with the development of his game and his body.”

Veal, who has worked closely with Jarrard throughout his high school career, has trained and evaluated quarterbacks across multiple levels, including guys like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. 

He believes Notre Dame’s offensive structure will benefit Jarrard’s growth, especially as a quarterback with NFL aspirations.

“I think it gives him the chance to develop,” Veal said. “We talked about it as an NFL quarterback, with reads, going through progressions, understanding protections.”

Veal pointed specifically to Notre Dame’s emphasis on timing throws, pocket presence and pro-style concepts.

“I just think the up-the-field throws, the timing throws and more of a pocket presence throws will help him,” Veal said.

He contrasted that approach with offenses that rely more heavily on space-based reads, noting that Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s system requires quarterbacks to process coverage and situational football more consistently.

“A lot of schools don’t really read coverage,” Veal said. “They just throw to space. That’s just my opinion. But I think Coach Denbrock is really going to develop him as a quarterback, learning protections, learning coverages, understanding situations.”

Veal also pointed to Notre Dame’s commitment to being a team that is going to run the football as actually being more beneficial for Jarrard’s long-term future than a more pass-heavy offense. 

“You play under center, you can play run game, pass game, play action game, all of that. It just adds more dimensions to his game.”

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