Riley Leonard’s 2024 season was something of a comeback tour from start to finish.
He was a dark horse Heisman Trophy candidate in his time at Duke, later faltering due to injury and falling off the radar because of the way those issues affected his play.
There were high expectations surrounding how Leonard could elevate the Fighting Irish offense instantly, but that did not happen immediately as his inconsistent play in September caused many fans to call for him to be benched.
But he’s come a long way since all of that and the upset loss to NIU, and it culminated with a national title game appearance against Ohio State.
Notre Dame came up short, 34-23, but the offense hardly could have had a chance without Leonard’s running ability and some of the clutch plays he made through the air.
And his impact was immediately felt.
Leonard carried the ball twice on the team’s first set of downs, giving the team its first first down of the night.
It was Leonard who gave the Fighting Irish their first touchdown of the evening on a one-yard, walk-in score after the Buckeyes had no answer for him on the ground.
Within the first drive of the game alone, Leonard had garnered two first downs with his legs in a fourth-down situation. He finished it out with 34 rushing yards and one touchdown on nine carries.
The second possession held a bit more sputtering for the offense and for Leonard, though.
He has one badly overthrown pass early on in the second drive of the game, but he redeemed himself with a remarkable throw on the run to Beaux Collins on what looked like would have been a first down. Instead, it was called back due to holding.
The Irish stifled what could have been a promising drive and instead were put in a 3rd & 23 situation in which they would be forced to punt. That seemed to set the dismal tone for some of the issues the team would have on that side of the ball for the remainder of the night.
In the second half, Leonard and the offense desperately needed to find life as they trailed 28-7 heading into the third quarter. Suddenly, late in the third quarter, they put together a drive they needed at least five more of to have made this a truly competitive game.
The Irish went up-tempo with a high sense of urgency, driving 75 yards down the field on a drive that ended in a 34-yard touchdown reception by Jaden Greathouse. The two-point conversion attempt was successful, with Love making the effort there.
For a moment, it seemed Notre Dame had a flicker of a chance. But that little light went dark when Ohio State made the most of its final possession of the game, making a field goal that brought the final score to 34-23.
Leonard described Notre Dame’s collapse at the end of the game as “unacceptable” and blamed it on himself. In reality, he was the last one who should have been blamed.
Leonard finished out the game 22-for-31 passing (71%), throwing for 255 yards with two touchdowns. He was also the team’s leading rusher, carrying the ball 17 times for 40 yards and one touchdown.
If there’s one thing that has become evident reflecting back on this performance, and the season in general, it’s the way Leonard had grown as a pure passer.
He was once viewed as more of a running quarterback, but now projects as more of a dual-threat as he prepares for the next stage of his career.
As he so often does with his humble nature, Leonard said he could not have accomplished this without his offensive line and supporting cast.
“It’s very easy to be a successful quarterback when, first and foremost, your coaches are just setting you up for success,” Leonard told me after the game. “I’ve never been so prepared in my life. I’ve just learned so much within this past year.”
He also says that Notre Dame’s offense expands beyond its identity as a “rushing offense” and that the way those around him rise to the occasion makes him a better passing quarterback.
“You look at our offense, and a lot of people want to describe us as a rushing offense, and I’m probably labeled as a rushing quarterback sometimes, but these guys don’t budge,” Leonard continued. “They do their job. They smile.”
Leonard got emotional, tears in his eyes as he reflected upon his growth at Notre Dame as a prospect, that was more of a team effort than an individual effort in its own way.
“With them how could I not become a better player on the field? Then off the field, you can walk into that locker room and every single one of those people, you’re going to leave impressed by.”
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Riley Leonard put up a valiant effort in national championship loss to Ohio State
