Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman highlights the captivating qualities of Riley Leonard that spark Colts' interest
Hype for Riley Leonard, Notre Dame's Dual-Threat QB, Soars After NFL Draft Selection
Notre Dame's former standout quarterback, Riley Leonard, stole the spotlight after the NFL Draft, as he was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round. Marcus Freeman, the Fighting Irish's coach, gleamed with pride, praising Leonard as an "ascending player" who hasn't reached his peak yet.
The Colts, a team searching for a stable quarterback in the draft, welcomed Leonard into their ranks. During the 2024 season at Notre Dame, Leonard led the Fighting Irish all the way to the national championship game, where they faced off against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff final, eventually falling short.
Leonard, a versatile QB, shined both through the air and with his feet. His 2024 season was a breakout, setting new career-highs in completion percentage, passing completions, and touchdown passes. He also reached new milestones in rushing attempts and rushing yards.
Leonard's legacy at Notre Dame is undeniable, despite playing just one season in South Bend. Under his leadership, the Fighting Irish secured their first-ever College Football Playoff bid, overcoming a rough loss to Northern Illinois early in the season.
Freeman will likely feel the loss of Leonard's spark during the upcoming season, as he guided the Fighting Irish to CFP victories over Indiana, Georgia, and Penn State. Leonard's best performance came against Ohio State in the final, where he threw two touchdowns and amassed 255 passing yards.
As the Colts' newest addition to the quarterback room, Leonard joins Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Leonard shared his thoughts about his time with the Colts during Notre Dame Pro Day, expressing optimism about his abilities to extend plays, make plays as a playmaker, and contribute to the quarterback room in any way possible.
Riley Leonard: A Dual-Threat Prospect
Leonard's NFL career hinges on his dual-threat skills and growth potential. Here's a glimpse at the key factors driving his journey:
- Physical prowess and athleticism: Standing at 6'3-6'4" and 216 lbs, Leonard boasts a prototypical size and mobile abilities, having rushed for 2,130 yards and 36 touchdowns in college while logging 7,311 passing yards[2][3].
- Strengths and weaknesses: Leonard displays poise on the field and demonstrates anticipatory throwing in short-to-intermediate zones, effectively navigating zone coverage[3]. However, he struggled with decision-making under pressure in the 2024 season, tossing 8 interceptions against 21 touchdown passes, despite a career-best 66.7% completion percentage[2].
- Pathway to playing time: Selected as the No. 189 overall pick, Leonard starts off as the third-string QB behind Richardson and Jones. His future growth depends on factors like injury resilience, scheme adaptation, and mechanical refinement[2][3].
- Historical context: Recent sixth-round quarterbacks like Sam Howell have demonstrated developmental potential. Leonard, however, faces a competitive depth chart, and his mobility could earn him only limited opportunities, especially with Richardson's similar skill set[4]. Long-term, Leonard could emerge as either a high-end backup or a late-blooming starter, depending on his improvement in passing consistency[3][5].
- Riley Leonard, the selected dual-threat quarterback from Notre Dame, demonstrated his athleticism during his time with the Fighting Irish, rushing for 2,130 yards and 36 touchdowns, alongside logging 7,311 passing yards.
- During his 2024 season at Notre Dame, Leonard showcased his versatility, setting new career-highs in passing completions, completion percentage, and touchdown passes, while also impressing with his rushing attempts and yards.
- Although Leonard was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, he faces a competitive depth chart, starting behind Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, and his future growth hinges on factors like injury resilience, scheme adaptation, and mechanical refinement.
- Despite playing just one season for Notre Dame, Leonard left a lasting impact on the team, guiding them to their first-ever College Football Playoff bid, and leading them all the way to the national championship game against Ohio State in the 2024 season.
- The future success of Leonard's NFL career will be driven by his dual-threat skills and growth potential, as well as his ability to extend plays, make plays as a playmaker, and contribute to the quarterback room in any way possible.
