Notre Dame transfer quarterback Riley Leonard is eager to make a statement in his first game as a starter for the Fighting Irish. Leonard is facing off against his former head coach at Duke, Mike Elko, and the Texas A&M Aggies in Saturday’s Week One showdown. The road game provides Leonard with a golden opportunity to showcase his growth and prove that Notre Dame is a force to be reckoned with this season.
Elko recruited Leonard to Duke. After winning 14 games together at Duke, Leonard departed for Notre Dame through the transfer portal last December. Additionally, Elko is in his first season at the helm of Texas A&M after taking over for Jimbo Fisher. In speaking at a press conference this week, Elko touched on the unique dynamic of the matchup and his respect for the Notre Dame offense.
“It starts with the quarterback, who I have some familiarity with,” Elko said. “He (Riley Leonard) is a dual-threat quarterback. I think he can hurt you with his arm and with his legs. He presents a huge challenge. In the backfield, they have always had a lot of running backs and can roll through guys. Similar to us, they have a revamped wide receiver room. They have some guys that have really stepped up in their program and the additions of transfers.
“I think one of the unique things as you’re watching film on openers is you’re watching film from like eight different colleges as you get ready for this (Notre Dame) offense,” Elko continued. “You have Duke film (Riley Leonard), FIU film (Kris Mitchell) on there. You’ve got Clemson film (Beaux Collins), Notre Dame film, LSU film (offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock). It’s one of the unique things going through this opener.”
Riley Leonard vs. Mike Elko
Leonard has firsthand experience going up against Elko’s defensive schemes from their days together at Duke. The familiarity with Elko’s strategies provides Leonard and his teammates a unique advantage as Notre Dame prepares for Saturday’s contest. At a Notre Dame press conference on Aug. 27, Leonard expressed both excitement and anticipation in squaring off against his former coach and his new team.
“I think I have a really good feel for the defense, obviously,” Leonard shared. “I’ve been playing against it at practice every day for the last two years. He obviously has a good feel for my game and my tendencies as well. I think they do a good job of disguising everything. Everything looks similar pre-snap. If I’m able to figure it out, we’ll be alright.
“A year ago, who would’ve thought we’d be in this situation,” Leonard added. “We’re both very competitive. We like to talk a little trash, too. It’s not just him. A lot of their coaching staff came from Duke. To be able to play against all those guys, I’m sure they’ll be scheming me up. I’m excited.”
A Hostile Environment
Playing at Kyle Field will be a daunting task for Leonard and the Fighting Irish. The Aggies’ passionate fan base is known for creating a hostile environment for opposing teams. A deafening crowd can disrupt even the most experienced signal callers. Notre Dame has prepared for the raucous crowd by piping in band and crowd noise from speakers at practice. Leonard believes the Irish are equipped to block out the distractions and take care of business on Saturday night.
“It’s going to be a huge crowd, something you always dream about as a kid,” Leonard said. “You want to play in these moments. I think it’s really cool and a great opportunity. My mindset is to be a kid again and enjoy this. Obviously, I’ve played in a bunch of big games and with a bunch of loud crowds. We’ve been practicing with the speakers. I think I’m very prepared for it. I’m really just excited more than anything.”
Returning To The Field
After nearly a year of setbacks due to an ankle injury, Leonard is finally healthy and ready to take the field for his first live drive since last season. Despite being hampered throughout the offseason due to a pair of surgeries on his ankle, Leonard has worked tirelessly to regain his strength and form.
“The first drive, it’ll be great to be back out there,” Leonard said. “I didn’t appreciate how much I love and care about football until it was taken from me for the majority of the offseason. It’ll be great to be back out there healthy, and feeling good. Taking hits will be a lot of fun for me. I can’t wait.”
ESPN’s College Gameday will be in College Station for the highly anticipated season opener between the two ranked teams. Without question, facing the No. 20 Aggies will be a major test for Leonard and his new teammates. To set the tone for a successful season and a run at the College Football Playoff, Leonard and the seventh-ranked Fighting Irish will need to overcome a rowdy environment on the road to escape Week 1 with a win.
“The closer I get to the game, the more I realize it is us versus them,” Leonard said. “We’re going against A&M at the end of the day. I don’t want it to be about us (Riley Leonard and Mike Elko). Hopefully, that’s not the narrative. If it is, I get it. It makes sense, but I’m excited for our team to prove what we can do.”
