Former Duke Star Lands Starting Job With National Championship Contender
By Joe Summers
Former Duke star QB Riley Leonard officially won the starting job at Notre Dame. The No. 6 Fighting Irish are considered true national championship contenders, giving Leonard an opportunity to lead his team to the College Football Playoff.
Leonard spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Duke, transferring to Notre Dame following the 2023 season. He was spectacular during the 2022 season, completing 63.8% of his passes for 2,967 yards with 20 TDs and only six interceptions.
Now with a loaded roster and higher expectations, the sky is the limit for Leonard in 2024.
Former Duke Star QB Riley Leonard Named Notre Dame's Starter
Marcus Freeman was asked if Riley Leonard is Notre Dame's starting quarterback. He simply said, "Yeah, he's been with the ones."
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) August 17, 2024
No big charade or announcement for the Fighting Irish's QB1 designation this year. Not necessary. It's Leonard.
Head coach Marcus Freeman wasn't shy about naming Leonard the starter, avoiding a big announcement in favor one a straightforward answer during media availability.
Leonard enters the season considered one of the country's best signal callers with a true opportunity to be among the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was limited to just seven games last season, completing 57.6% of his passes for 1,102 yards, three TDs and three interceptions.
He's got excellent value with his legs, best showcased in that 2022 campaign. Leonard rushed 124 times for 699 yards and 13 TDs then, and Notre Dame fans hope Leonard taps back into that tremendous dual-threat ability after disappointing production last year.
Maalik Murphy will be the Blue Devils' starter. While he doesn't have Leonard's ceiling, he's still an exciting player for a Duke program that hopes to take a step forward in a new college football landscape.
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