Notre Dame football a ‘place for champions’: Riley Leonard

Recent comments by Riley Leonard following his Notre Dame football visit indicate that the former Duke signal-caller is very high on the Fighting Irish. Now the big question is how Marcus Freeman and company can close the deal?

Leonard was in South Bend earlier this week for an official visit. According to Irish Breakdown, it appears the trip went about as well as Notre Dame fans could hope to expect.

The former Duke quarterback talked to the website while he was still in town and described it as “amazing.” Everything he said seemed to be coming from a recruit who might have already made up his mind.

“From the campus to the people,” Leonard said. “It has been a really great experience. It definitely feels like a place I can be comfortable.”

Notre Dame football fans should be especially enthused by what he said next. Not just because it’s quite complimentary towards the program, but because it underlines that the former Blue Devil knows what’s most important.

“It’s a place for champions that’s for sure,” he continued. “I trust why the coaches are trying to build. They have a great vision for how to build it.”

Notre Dame football makes strong impression on Riley Leonard

The Fighting Irish coaching staff all met face-to-face with the transfer portal quarterback and really seemed to impress him with what they said. That shouldn’t actually surprise anyone, quite honestly.

If there’s one thing Marcus Freeman and his crew do well, it’s recruiting. Add to the fact that Riley Leonard has been the top Irish quarterback target for a while now – even if they haven’t always admitted it publicly – and they likely all had their approach planned out.

All the good things the former Duke signal-caller were nice to hear. But it doesn’t appear things are totally sorted. At the moment he’s still expected to visit Ohio State and Auburn.

Notre Dame fans are going to be chewing their finger nails for the next week or so. Even if Riley Leonard is still seen as a lock, there’s reason to be nervous until he signs on the dotted line.