Notre Dame a potential landing spot for top transfer portal QB

Riley Leonard. Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Notre Dame a potential landing spot for top transfer portal quarterback

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/29/23

Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was a preseason first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, per ESPN's Mel Kiper. He might be Notre Dame's starting quarterback next season instead.

Leonard entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, and he instantly became the best quarterback available in the portal (sorry, Tyler Van Dyke).

On3's Pete Nakos reports that the Fighting Irish are a leading contender for Leonard, while Auburn was noted as a team to watch.

Notre Dame and Auburn will be destinations to watch for Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, sources tell @On3sports.

The Fighting Irish want to add a quarterback. An Alabama native, playing in the SEC would be attractive. An official timetable has not been set yet by Leonard’s camp,… pic.twitter.com/CbqivchrWx
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) November 29, 2023

He could also follow his head coach with the Blue Devils, Mike Elko, to Texas A&M. However, its 2023 season-opening starter, Conner Weigman, performed well enough before a season-ending foot injury that quarterback isn't a need in College Station.

LSU might also be an attractive destination after transfers Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels improved their NFL Draft stock following stints with the Tigers.

If Leonard, who entered the portal with a "do not contact" designation, chooses Notre Dame, it will set up one of the best storylines of Week 1 next season when Elko's Aggies host the Irish.

It would also be a huge win for Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, who also landed Sam Hartman in the portal last offseason.

Ankle and toe injuries plagued Leonard in 2023, limiting him to seven games. He was 95-of-165 (57.6 percent) for 1,102 yards, seven total touchdowns and three interceptions while adding 352 yards on 58 carries. During his sophomore year in 2022, Leonard played in 13 games and was 250-of-392 (63.8 percent) for 2,967 yards, 33 total touchdowns and six interceptions with 124 carries for 699 yards.

Before he suffered his injuries, the first coincidentally coming against the Irish, Leonard showed why he was trending as a potential 2024 first-round pick in the Blue Devils' 28-7 season-opening win over Clemson.

RILEY LEONARD LOOKIN LIKE DENARD ROBINSON pic.twitter.com/jaZGeaq8C8
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) September 5, 2023

Exactly as Kiper wrote about Leonard in his preseason big board ("He's a tough runner who can make defenders miss"), the former Duke quarterback barreled through a couple of arm tackles by Clemson defenders and ran 44 yards for a touchdown.

Leonard will make whichever team he plays for next better. Early indications are it could be Notre Dame.

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