The term "old" is kinda funny when you’re talking about college football. In any other world, a 22-year-old is a kid just starting out, probably still figuring out how to file taxes or which coffee shop has the best Wi-Fi. But in South Bend? If you’ve been under center for a season and the transfer portal is humming, you’re basically a grandfather. Riley Leonard became that Notre Dame old quarterback the second the 2024 season wrapped up and the conversation shifted toward the future of Marcus Freeman’s offense. It’s a weird spot to be in.
You've got a guy who came from Duke with massive expectations, dealt with a nagging ankle injury that felt like it would never heal, and then had to lead a blue-blood program under a microscope that never stops blinking.
Notre Dame fans are a specific breed of intense. They don’t just want wins; they want a Heisman candidate who looks like he walked off a movie set. When Leonard arrived, he wasn't just replacing a stat line; he was replacing Sam Hartman, another "old" guy who brought a different vibe. The transition wasn't exactly seamless. It was clunky at times. Honestly, the early-season loss to Northern Illinois in 2024 still feels like a fever dream to most of the Irish faithful. How does a team with that much talent stumble like that? It usually comes down to the guy taking the snaps.
The Dual-Threat Dilemma of a Notre Dame Old Quarterback
Leonard wasn't your traditional pocket passer. Not even close.
If you look at the way Mike Denbrock—the offensive coordinator who returned from LSU after turning Jayden Daniels into a superstar—tried to use him, it was clear they wanted mobility. Leonard could run. He possessed this deceptive, long-striding speed that caught linebackers off guard. But the arm? That was the sticking point. People kept waiting for the deep ball to become a consistent threat. It’s hard to be "the guy" at Notre Dame when the defense is stacking the box because they don't fear the post route.
It's a pattern we see a lot with the Notre Dame old quarterback archetype lately. The program has leaned heavily on the portal. Ian Book was the last real "homegrown" multi-year starter who felt like he owned the place for an era. Since then, it’s been a revolving door of talented veterans trying to capture lightning in a bottle for twelve months. Jack Coan did it well. Hartman did it with a lot of flair but mixed results in big games. Leonard was supposed to be the bridge to the next generation—specifically CJ Carr—but being a bridge is a thankless job.
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Why the Transfer Portal Changes the Legacy
In the old days, you’d sit for three years, play for two, and everyone knew your name by the time you were a senior. Now? You're a veteran before you even see the stadium.
Leonard brought a toughness that was undeniable. Think back to the Texas A&M game. The atmosphere in College Station was toxic, loud, and suffocating. He didn't put up 400 yards, but he didn't blink. That’s what you pay for when you bring in an experienced starter. You aren't just buying the physical talent; you’re buying the nervous system. You want a guy who has played in the ACC, seen the blitzes, and doesn't puke in the huddle when 100,000 people are screaming for his head.
But there’s a cost.
When you start a "one-and-done" veteran, the fan base gets restless the moment there’s a mistake. They start looking at the freshman on the bench. They start wondering if the "old" guy is holding back the future.
The Physical Toll of the 2024 Season
We have to talk about the surgery. Leonard’s move from Duke was hampered by the fact that he was essentially recovering from a significant ankle issue while trying to learn a brand-new playbook. It’s hard to build chemistry with wide receivers like Mitchell Evans or Jordan Faison when you’re in a walking boot for half of the spring.
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By the time the season hit the midway point, Leonard looked more comfortable, but the "old quarterback" narrative stayed stuck to him. He was the veteran who was supposed to be polished. When he missed a read, it wasn't viewed as a "young mistake." It was viewed as a ceiling.
- Passing Accuracy: Fluctuated wildly between 55% and 70% depending on the week.
- Rushing Impact: Remained his greatest weapon, often bailed out the offensive line.
- Leadership: Unquestioned. Even the skeptics admitted the locker room loved him.
Comparing Leonard to the Notre Dame Greats
Is it fair to compare a one-year transfer to Joe Montana or Tony Rice? Probably not. But that’s the job description. When you put on the gold helmet, you’re being measured against ghosts.
The Notre Dame old quarterback usually falls into one of two categories: the legend or the stopgap. Leonard occupies a weird middle ground. He wasn't a disaster, but he didn't hoist a trophy in January either. He was a stabilizer. In a world of NIL and constant roster turnover, maybe stabilization is underrated.
The critics will point to the passing yards. They'll say he didn't "evolve" the offense enough. But if you watch the tape of the late-season games, you see a guy who was playing through pain and making business decisions that kept the chains moving. He was efficient. Sometimes boring, sure, but efficient.
What the Next Guy Can Learn
The transition to the 2025 and 2026 seasons is all about the "young" guys taking over. Whether it's Kenny Minchey or the highly-touted CJ Carr, the shadow of Leonard will loom large. Why? Because he showed exactly how much pressure is on the position.
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If you're going to play quarterback here, you need a thick skin. You need to be able to handle the fact that the local media will dissect your footwork more than a surgeon dissects a heart. Leonard handled that part of the gig with a lot of grace. He never threw teammates under the bus. He never complained about the "old quarterback" labels or the whispers that he wasn't "elite" enough.
The Real Legacy of the Portal Era
Honestly, we might need to stop calling them "old." They’re just "experienced."
The reality is that Notre Dame’s success over the last few years has been built on the backs of these guys who spent four years elsewhere and came to South Bend to finish their story. It’s a mercenary system, but it’s the one we have. Leonard was the quintessential mercenary—a professional, a leader, and a guy who left the jersey in a better place than he found it, even if the trophy case didn't get a new addition.
What really happened with Leonard was a collision of high expectations and physical reality. You can't outrun an injury forever, and you can't outrun the pressure of Notre Dame forever either. He did a better job than most.
Actionable Insights for Following the Notre Dame Quarterback Room
To truly understand the trajectory of the Irish offense and how the veteran quarterback role is changing, you should keep an eye on these specific metrics over the next few seasons:
- Red Zone Completion Percentage: This was the Achilles heel for several recent veteran starters. Watch if the "younger" successors can improve on the 60% mark inside the 20-yard line.
- Transfer Portal Integration: Pay attention to how early a new quarterback enrolls. Leonard's spring was stunted; a full spring and summer of health is the baseline requirement for a playoff run.
- Third-Down Conversion with Legs: The "Leonard Effect" proved that a mobile quarterback is no longer optional for Marcus Freeman. If the next starter is a statue, the offense will likely regress unless the offensive line is top-three in the country.
- Offensive Coordinator Continuity: Mike Denbrock’s system is complex. Look for whether the quarterback is making "pro-style" checks at the line—a sign of true mastery that Leonard was just beginning to show toward the end of his tenure.
The era of the "old" quarterback might be fading as the program looks to develop its own stars, but the lessons learned during the Leonard and Hartman years will define the coaching staff's strategy for the rest of the decade.