Riley Leonard reveals tough love advice his mother gave him before ACC Football Kickoff appearance

There’s nothing like a little tough love during talking season, and the ACC Football Kickoff beginning had one football mom laying claim to the “Mom of the Year” award early on in 2023.

Speaking to reporters, Duke quarterback Riley Leonard informed them he hasn’t felt doubted much in his college career, so he asked his mom to provide him with a little adversity, according to SportsIllustrated’s Richard Johnson.

How did his mom respond?

Well, she texted Leonard back simply: “don’t suck at the interviews today.”

Quite the response, and terrific news for Duke fans if mom can continue providing an ongoing source of inspiration (and trash talk?) for the team’s starting quarterback. After all, Leonard was pretty good a year ago in leading the Blue Devils to nine wins.

The junior quarterback threw for 2,967 yards with 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 699 yards and another 13 touchdowns. He was one of the most effective dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.

And Duke’s success could hinge on a similar year for Leonard again in 2023.

In fact, the Blue Devils nearly had an incredible season a year ago. The team suffered three of its four losses by a field goal or less, with contests against Georgia Tech (overtime), North Carolina and Pittsburgh all going down to the wire.

Kansas was the only team who beat Duke by more than a field goal, securing a 35-27 win in the first month of the season.

Leonard had Duke well-positioned to win every contest last year.

He’s good enough that some league personnel believe he’s the second-best quarterback at the ACC Football Kickoff behind North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Wrote On3’s Matt Zenitz:

Even with Florida State having Jordan Travis, Miami having Tyler Van Dyke and Clemson having Cade Klubnik, it’s actually this former three-star recruit from Fairhope, Alabama that many ACC staffers and NFL scouts believe to be the best quarterback in the ACC not named Drake Maye.

“I love him,” an ACC team official told On3 of the 6-foot-4, 207-pound Leonard. “He’s got ideal size and frame. He’s extremely athletic and can run. He’s got a basketball background and was recruited for basketball. He was a freak-show basketball player. He could play somewhere easy with basketball. Dunk. Explosive. And when he gets in the open field, he can haul a—. And then he’s gotten progressively better each year throwing the ball. Looks like he knows where he’s going with the ball and can make all the throws. I think he’s got a high upside.”

So there you have it. Not only does Leonard have all the tools, he’s also seemingly got a strong network of support behind him, including a mother only too happy to help him in pursuit of his dreams.

Even if those dreams, for now, simply include crushing it at the ACC Football Kickoff. The rest will come.