Mel Kiper has surprising QB at No. 3 on preseason big board

Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard. Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Mel Kiper has surprising QB listed as third best on preseason big board

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 8/30/23

Johnny Dawkins vs. Michael Jordan. Christian Laettner vs. Rick Fox. Riley Leonard vs. Drake Maye?

Duke and North Carolina have plenty of storied basketball rivalries but a major one could be brewing in football.

Per Mel Kiper Jr.'s preseason big board for the 2024 NFL Draft, he lists Duke quarterback Leonard as the 20th overall prospect and third-best quarterback, behind North Carolina's Maye, who ranks fourth overall.

Maye has been receiving NFL draft buzz since last year and is a top contender for Heisman this season.

Leonard is lesser-known but as Kiper notes when pointing to his 74-yard touchdown run against the Tar Heels last season, has the tools to be a household name by the end of the season.

Kiper cautions against a hot start for Leonard, highlighting a tough Week 1 game against Clemson. But Leonard possesses intriguing traits that will attract NFL scouts.

He has a lightning-quick release, as shown on this side-arm throw.

There’s easy throwers and then there’s Riley Leonard (Duke) pic.twitter.com/Bo8r1nBNL5
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) August 25, 2023

Leonard (No. 13) stands tall in the pocket and quickly delivers a pass to his receiver on an out route. (Ignore the obvious hold by No. 22.)

He finished last season 250-of-392 (63.8 percent) for 2,967 yards (7.6 yards per attempt), 20 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 124 carries for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He was named MVP of the 2022 Military Bowl, a 30-13 win over UCF after going 19-of-28 passing with 236 total yards and two touchdowns.

Leonard will have a big stage against the Associated Press preseason No. 9 Tigers in primetime on Monday night (September 4). The Blue Devils have four games scheduled against teams ranked in the preseason poll, including No. 13 Notre Dame on Sept. 30 and No. 8 Florida State on Oct. 21, as Leonard tries to build on last year's success and increase his stock for the NFL Draft.

Duke also travels to No. 21 North Carolina on Nov. 11 in what might be the quarterback dual of the season.

It's as strange as it is fitting. The Blue Devils and Tar Heels, while not known for being football powerhouses, are among the fiercest rivals in college sports. As many great ones as they've had on the basketball court, Leonard and Maye could be the first in football.

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