Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard Leaning on Faith Through Ups and Downs
Notre Dame football never lacks for talking points, but Riley Leonard’s ankle has unfortunately been a hot topic over the last few months.
The 6-foot-4, 217-pounder's right ankle has undergone two minor operations since Leonard arrived on campus, which has led to the Duke transfer missing much of Notre Dame’s spring camp.
Yet there is a positive as Leonard is already feeling much better than he had over the last few months and there is hope he’ll be healthy sooner than later.
“I feel good,” stated Leonard. “Physically, this is the best my ankle has felt in about six months. We’re finally over that hump. We’ve been put through the wringer for a while now, but starting to figure it out and feel really good. I think next week, I’ll be jogging.”
It’s very clear the Alabama native is itching to get on the field, but he has made the most of observing this spring, which has its own positives.
“Mentally, being able to take mental notes at practice has been really cool for me,” explained Leonard. “I’ve been in a similar offense in the past. Through film study and things like that, I think I’ll be able to fit right into this offense as long as I can build this chemistry off the field with the guys.
“Whenever we get back in the summer, hopefully, I can utilize that time to throw to the receivers a little more and get more reps with those guys.”
Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli is well aware the situation isn’t ideal for Leonard or the Notre Dame offense, but he’s also thinking several steps ahead.
Leonard might be limited, but in the drills or periods he can practice, Guidguli is making sure to give him more reps than the healthy quarterbacks.
“If it’s a situation where he can’t do some of the live or team stuff, when we are in a 7-on-7 situation, he has to take the majority of those reps just to try to get him caught up a little bit, stated Guidugli. “Try to gain that timing back.”
Notre Dame athletic trainer Mike Bean invented the TayCo Brace and it’s allowed Leonard to do much more than most players in his situation.
The brace goes on the outside of the shoe, which gives the ankle stabilization and movement, but also allows you to walk and jog.
“The brace has been super impactful for me,” stated Leonard. “If we didn’t have access to these, I’d imagine I’d still be in a huge boot for this week and maybe even next week. But because we have access to these, I’m able to walk around campus.
“I had this one last week, which was two weeks after surgery. It’s just as stable as anything else. There’s no concern of me walking to class and tweaking my ankle because this has protection. At practice, I’m able to do three-step drops and pretty much all the QB drills the other guys are doing.”
The last six months haven’t been easy for Leonard. His injury not only knocked him out of the season but also put his Duke team behind the eight-ball after an impressive start. Life at Notre Dame has been a bumpy road to this point.
Leonard doesn’t let life’s ups and downs impact his attitude, and he credits his faith for moving him in the right direction.
“My faith has kind of gotten me through all this,” Leonard said. “The way I see it is maybe this protects me from something worse. Maybe if I don’t have to have this second ankle surgery, maybe something worse happens to me. I have that faith-based mindset that God has me and he’s in control. If I knew what God knew, I wouldn’t be asking any questions at all and I wouldn’t be hesitating on his decisions.
“I’ve grown a lot over the past six months.”
Outside of the injury, Leonard is also being tasked with building relationships with his coaching staff and teammates.
In his three months in South Bend, Leonard has quickly learned that there is always someone working on their craft in The Gug or the Irish Athletic Center, which has impressed him.
“It’s a professional atmosphere here,” Leonard explained. “Every time you walk into The Gug, someone is always doing something. If you walk in here, somebody is always working to get themselves better, whether it’s working on homework or a lot of football stuff. Everybody is always in the weight room. Somebody is somewhere doing something at all times every time you walk into this facility.
“It’s a brotherhood here. The football kind of acts as its own fraternity and brotherhood in and around campus. On the weekends, we travel as a unit. I love the culture here and I’ve learned what a professional type atmosphere is since being here.”
When it comes to a timeline for his health, Leonard hopes he’ll be back to normal in the next three or four weeks, but the Notre Dame training staff is not imposing a timeline.
“I wish I knew the answers,” said Leonard. “I ask them every day when I’ll be back. It’s more of a ‘Let’s see how you feel’ and take it slow. At the end of the day, I know I’m missing spring ball for the most part, but it’s still April. There’s no point in rushing this thing to get back.”
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