FORMER DUKE QB RILEY LEONARD COMMITS TO NOTRE DAME

"Notre Dame Stadium" Photo Credit: Ken Lund via Flickr

 WHO IS RILEY LEONARD?

Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard has committed to Notre Dame. The 6-foot-4-inch gunslinger chose the Irish after visiting South Bend this weekend. Leonard entered the transfer portal on November 29, 2023, after former Duke head coach Mike Elko accepted the same position at Texas A&M. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE COMMITMENT TO NOTRE DAME

With 2023 quarterback Sam Hartman exhausting his eligibility Notre Dame needed a veteran quarterback. Redshirt freshman Steve Angeli will start the Sun Bowl against Oregon State, but Angeli has never started a college football game in his career. The Irish have five-star quarterback CJ Carr coming in next season as well, as long as he does not flip his commitment.

HOW QUICKLY CAN RILEY LEONARD CONTRIBUTE AT NOTRE DAME?

In a word, IMMEDIATELY! Leonard brings an element to the table that the outgoing Hartman did not, a real threat to run. A veteran like Leonard should not have trouble transitioning to the Irish and will go into Spring practice as the presumed starter.

SCOUTING RILEY LEONARD

Riley Leonard is a dual-threat quarterback who can complement his rushing prowess with his passing skills. In three seasons at Duke, Leonard completed 61.7% of his passes for 4,450 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,224 yards and 19 touchdowns. His 2023 season was cut short by a toe injury against Louisville on October 28, 2023, which came three weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain against Notre Dame on September 30, 2023. Both injuries should be healed by the time Spring ball rolls around.