Notre Dame reporter names Minnesota as potential landing spot for transfer portal QB

Steve Angeli could provide the Gophers with much-needed experience in the QB room.

Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli during the Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The spring transfer portal window is open for business, and the Gophers football team could be in the market for a quarterback after Zach Pyron left for South Alabama this week. Could Notre Dame's Steve Angeli be a realistic target?

Nick Shepkowski, the managing editor of Notre Dame On SI, mentioned Minnesota as a potential landing spot for Angeli. He also named Tennessee, Purdue and Tulane.

"Minnesota was set to have transfer quarterback Zach Pyron on its roster in 2025, but (he) fell down the Golden Gophers' depth chart this spring. Drake Lindsey is the only quarterback on the Gophers roster to have attempted a collegiate pass, throwing five times last season. Angeli doesn't have a ton of experience, but clearly comes with more than the Gophers currently have," he wrote in a story on Thursday.

Angeli is best known for filling in for an injured Riley Leonard in last year's Orange Bowl against Penn State, where he went 6 of 7 for 44 yards. He was Notre Dame's primary backup last season, completing 66.7% of his passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. He was set to compete for the starting role this season, but his entry in the portal makes it seem like he was beaten out by talented redshirt freshman CJ Carr.

Hailing from Oradell, N.J., Angeli was a talented four-star recruit coming out of Bergen Catholic High School. Minnesota is familiar with the East Coast powerhouse program as current true freshman cornerback Naiim Parish was a star himself for the Crusaders, and they continue to pursue current recruits at that program.

Shepkowski's reasoning makes sense for listing Minnesota as a potential landing spot. The question then becomes whether or not it's something the Gophers would want to pursue. Presumed starter Lindsey is viewed very high within the program, but he's the only player on the roster who has attempted a college pass.

If Angeli is open to coming to Minnesota and competing for the starting role, it could make sense for both parties. The Gophers want Lindsey to be their quarterback of the future, and he's earned the starting role this spring, but it's a lot of pressure to put on a redshirt freshman.

Purdue has already signed Ryan Browne this spring, so it's likely out of the running. Tennessee could use another quarterback after Nico Iamaleava left for UCLA, and Tulane seems keen on adding a quarterback.

The Minnesota staff clearly likes Lindsey and thinks he can be the starter in 2025. After Pyron's departure, there's no quarterback on the team's roster who has attempted more than five college passes. The Gophers' chances of adding a player like Angeli from the transfer portal this spring would be dictated by whether or not they trust Lindsey enough to have insurance in the quarterback room or competition, and that's probably something that's only known from within.