Skip to main content

Nick Saban breaks down National Championship QB matchup of Will Howard, Riley Leonard

IMG_6598by:Nick Koskoabout 9 hours

nickkosko59

imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-Ijb4Lz7EdN (1)
Brett Davis-Imagn Images/Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Nick Saban broke down both Will Howard and Riley Leonard going into Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Both defenses can play at a high level and dictate the game, so who’s going to play better under center? Howard certainly has more at his disposal than Leonard, but that’s not the end all be all for the game.


Get your team’s official College Football Playoff watch from AXIA by CLICKING HERE: “Watches that tell so much more than time”

Saban broke down both QBs Monday, perhaps giving the edge to Howard over Leonard.

“Will Howard has done a good job of taking what the defense gives,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show. “They got a lot of weapons now. They got two really good runners, they got three really good receivers, they got a good tight end, so he just got to give the take what the defense gives, and they’re going to be able to do a good job.”

If Leonard is diverse for Notre Dame, as in efficient passing and timely running, Notre Dame’s offense could be humming, according to Saban.

“I think Riley Leonard on the other hand, you know, it’s more about him being able to be a runner, having more diversity as a quarterback, which he’s done a really good job of,” Saban said. “He’s really good athlete, he’s a great competitor, and his throwing has gotten better, especially the short throws, where they can keep, you know, the sticks moving. They haven’t made a lot of explosive plays, but that’s okay if you’re playing keep away.”

This season, Howard has 3,779 yards, 33 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, a 72.6% completion percentage, 169 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

On the flip side, Leonard has 2,606 yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 66.4% completion percentage. He added 866 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns.

Both Howard and Leonard are leaders in their own right. Ohio State OC Chip Kelly noted how Howard stepped up after offensive lineman Seth McLaughlin went down with an injury.

“One of the things, Will is conscience of what’s going on. He’s very aware. Not only did we lose a great player in Seth, we lost a great leader in Seth,” Kelly explained. “So, there was a little bit of a vacuum, from a leadership standpoint. Will did a great job, between Will and Donnie [Donovan Jackson]. Those are the two leaders, and those other guys up front, bringing those other guys along with them. So, that was evident to us, after Seth went down.

“Both Will and Donnie kind of stepping up and filling that void with losing Seth, because Seth was such a great leader for that group up front.”