Riley Leonard feeling good, no limitations ahead of 2024 season

Quarterback Riley Leonard transferred from Duke to Notre Dame for the 2024 season. Unfortunately, injuries followed him from his time at Duke and have been an issue that he’s battling to get ready for the year.

While attending the Manning Passing Academy, Leonard shared that he’s feeling good after those injury issues and that he’ll have no limitations going into next season when he’s expected to be the starter for the Irish.

“Healthy, healthy, healthy,” Riley Leonard said. “I can’t stress that enough. I’m very healthy. If you were walking around in my body, you wouldn’t even know you had any injuries in the first place. I’m feeling good. There’s no limitations to workout-wise that I’m doing. So, I feel good.”

A bit ironically, Riley Leonard was initially injured during Duke’s game against Notre Dame in 2023. It came on the final play from scrimmage when he was hit and awkwardly had his leg trapped underneath him leading to an ankle injury. A few weeks later, he returned to play against Florida State but appeared to reaggravate the injury and left the game.

Leonard would go on to play against Louisville but got shut down for the rest of the season following that game with a toe injury.

Following the season, Riley Leonard transferred to Notre Dame. While there, he missed winter workouts thanks to an ankle surgery that he needed. Unfortunately, Leonard would then miss time during the spring when he needed a second ankle injury, adding to the difficulty of his transition to a new program.

With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams, there is going to be an expectation among Notre Dame fans that the Irish make it to the Playoff. If they’re going to get to that point, the Irish need a healthy Riley Leonard leading the team.

Riley Leonard cites family atmosphere at Notre Dame as the best part of his transfer

Riley Leonard established himself as a star at Duke. Still, he entered the Transfer Portal and landed at Notre Dame, in no small part due to the family atmosphere there.

“Yeah, it was good. You know, it’s tough. We’re kids just like everybody else, like, I’m a kid at a new school that didn’t know anybody. Okay, like, we’re quarterbacks and it’s cool or whatever, but we got to make friends just like everybody else,” Leonard said.

“But the easiest part has been the family atmosphere at Notre Dame, and the fact I can relate to my teammates so well. Best people in the world, love those guys.”