Riley Leonard Offers Several Intriguing Quarterback Traits
INDIANAPOLIS – There’s a lot to like about Riley Leonard.
He’s got nice quarterback size (6-3, 216).
His toughness was on full display in quarterbacking Notre Dame to last year’s National Title game.
The ability to extend plays/make plays with his legs was clear from Leonard.
And those around the NFL absolutely gush over the character Lenoard brings to the most important position in sports.
So how in the world did Leonard not get drafted until the 189th pick of the 2025 Draft.
Let the quarterback help summarize it.
“I don’t think I’m nearly the player I want to be and I have the potential to be,” Leonard explains. “I have to be able to play with my eyes, and be a little bit more disciplined form pocket. You are not going to be able to extend the plays in college like I did as much. Operating from the pocket and playing on time are two of the things I want to emphasize.”
While the Colts clearly have unknown at the top of the quarterback depth chart (Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones competing), that can also be said further down for the 3rd quarterback spot (Riley Leonard vs. Jason Bean). Remember, the NFL recently adopted a rule where a 3rd QB can dress on game in an emergency role, one that benefited Sam Ehlinger (who is now with the Broncos) greatly.
Shane Steichen attended at Notre Dame’s Pro Day and came away impressed by his interactions with Leonard.
“I just think the athletic ability that he has at the quarterback position, what he was able to do at Notre Dame this year, leading them to the National Championship speaks volumes of the player and the competitor that he is.,” the head coach said. “Just to add that depth in that room is big.”
The Colts didn’t seriously entertain quarterback until the final day of the draft, when they took Leonard in the middle of Round 6.
“At that point in the draft, we liked Riley and we’ve been following him,” Ballard said. “We follow all these guys for their whole careers. We’ve been following him from Duke and then he goes to Notre Dame and has a lot of success. He had been training with Philip Rivers. So of course, that is a definite connection. But good to get him. He’s a good player, a good athlete. We think he’s got some upside. He’ll come in and compete.”
Leonard does hail from Fairhope, Alabama, which is where Rivers (and his 11 children) now call home.
In fact, Leonard hosted some Notre Dame wideouts down there last summer, with Rivers helping guide them through a mini training camp.
Drilling down on the little details is what Leonard has found the biggest learning item in working with Rivers.
The Colts connection between the two was also felt from Leonard throughout the draft experience.
It’s why Leonard made sure he had a Colts shirt and hat ready come draft time (the Colts and Ravens were the only teams he had extra apparel ready for).
“Throughout this whole process, there’s no place I’d rather be than back in Indiana,” Leonard says. “It just felt like home being back there at the Combine.”
From going from Duke to Notre Dame in the transfer portal, Leonard will now head down US-31 while “back home again in Indiana” rings true in his professional life.
