Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman reaffirms Riley Leonard as expected starting quarterback
Notre Dame has not officially named a starting quarterback for the 2024 season, but head coach Marcus Freeman all but confirmed one during his Saturday press conference: senior Riley Leonard, who transferred from Duke this offseason.
Leonard has taken the vast majority of the first-team reps at quarterback since fall camp began July 31.
“Yeah, he’s been with the ones the whole time,” Freeman said. “That was the goal.”
Junior signal-caller Steve Angeli will be Leonard’s primary backup, while sophomore Kenny Minchey and freshman CJ Carr round out the depth chart.
“We know he can do some things with his legs, but we kind of forced him — ‘We know you can run the ball. Let’s continue to watch you progress in the passing game,'” Freeman said. “Making checks, being able to put the offense in great situations. That’s what you’re most pleased about. But he’s taking care of the football, and that’s what we need out of our quarterback.”
Leonard transferred to Notre Dame after 21 starts at Duke. In his best season, 2022, he completed 250 of his 391 passes for 2,967 yards (7.6 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.
The Fairhope, Ala. native has a potent arm, but at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, his rushing ability is his best trait. He compiled 699 rushing yards as a sophomore, and he found the end zone 13 times. Junior wide receiver Jayden Thomas even compared him to NFL stars Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
“Man, I’m no quarterback guru,” Freeman said. “JT’s opinion is JT. But he is a physical, good-lucking dude, man. I don’t know how big Josh Allen is. I don’t think he’s Lamar Jackson, you know, the NFL MVP. But he’s exactly what we need.”
Leonard’s 2023 season got off to a hot start, leading Duke to a 28-7 upset win over No. 9 Clemson. The Blue Devils started 4-0 before a final-drive loss to Notre Dame, during which Leonard injured his right ankle.
The injury kept Leonard out for nearly a month, and he was not the same player when he returned. Duke lost to Florida State and Louisville in late October before shutting Leonard down for what would be his final season with the Blue Devils.
Leonard finished his junior year with 1,102 passing yards on 165 attempts (6.7 Y/A), 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His numbers on the ground remained impressive, with 58 rushes for 352 yards (a career-high 6.1 yards per carry) and 4 scores.
He entered the transfer portal Nov. 29, and Notre Dame prioritized him right away.
“He’s a competitor,” Freeman said. “I don’t know what the NFL projects him as. I just know that dude is a competitor. He’s a gamer. When the game is on the line, I want to give the ball to him.”
With the keys to the offense in hand, Leonard’s attention will turn to Notre Dame’s Week 1 matchup with Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 in College Station, Texas. His head coach at Duke, Mike Elko, took the same job with the Aggies shortly before Leonard transferred to the Irish.
“Yeah, I thought about that when I committed,” Leonard said during his first press conference at Notre Dame, back in February. “Coach Elko and I obviously have a great relationship, and we’re able to joke around about the fact that we’ll be playing each other. … But yeah, this is gonna be a big one for our prides. I’m excited for that.”
