Riley Leonard reveals NFL Draft approach amid questions about ability as pocket passer: 'I have a lot to prove'
During his time at Duke and Notre Dame, Riley Leonard became known for his playmaking ability as a runner. He helped lead the Fighting Irish to a national championship appearance this past season, totaling more than 900 yards on the ground.
But there are questions about how Leonard can do as a pocket passer at the next level. It’s an important part of the pre-NFL Draft process, and it’s part of his approach over the next two months.
Leonard showcased his dual-threat ability throughout the year, but his arm helped Notre Dame get back into the national championship against Ohio State. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns after the break to spark a Fighting Irish comeback, which fell just short. But even despite a strong finish to the season, Leonard knows there’s more work to do.
“I think I have a lot to prove the next few months,” Leonard told SiriusXM NFL Radio at the Senior Bowl. “I’m a whatever-it-takes-to-win type of guy, and I think being able to use my legs in college helped my team win, so that’s what I did. If that means staying in the pocket, I’ve got to work on some mechanical winds. Anything I put my mind to, I think I can accomplish.
“Shoutout to my offensive line and my receivers in the second half there. They all balled out and made me look good.”
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Riley Leonard applying lessons learned at Manning Passing Academy
Riley Leonard put together an impressive final season of college football at Notre Dame as he threw for 2,861 yards and 21 touchdowns while adding 906 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He helped propel the Fighting Irish to a 13-game winning streak following a Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois and, as a result, a national title game appearance.
Now, he’s getting ready to put on a show for NFL scouts. Leonard will start Saturday’s Senior Bowl, and he’s going to apply the lessons he learned from Peyton and Eli Manning during the Manning Passing Academy last June.
“The biggest takeaway that I took was how intentional Peyton and Eli, who are all-time quarterbacks, took every single kid at that camp,” Leonard said. “For those that don’t know, about 2,000 kids go to Thibodaux, Louisiana in the middle of the summer, the hottest weekend of the year, by far. And Peyton and Eli spend time with every single kid at that camp. And they know every single waterboy, watergirl’s name, these little details, because they care so much about people.
“It kind of reminds me of the bible verse I wear on my wrist, Matthew 23:12, ‘Those who exalt themselves to be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted.’ I tried to show it off in the natty, but it was a little blurry, so for anybody wondering, that’s what I was showing off. But yeah, I think they taught me a lot of life lessons and the things that I care most about, they definitely fulfill. They’re great role models to me.”