This week, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard made an unusual request to the coaching staff.
The 6-foot-4, 216-pound player asked quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli if he could participate in live drills during practice.
As expected, Guidugli didn’t hesitate in his response.
“He’s eager to go live,” Guidugli said. “But I told him, ‘You just missed all spring. We can’t go live.’ During our recent night practice, which was our first real live session, he asked, ‘Coach, can you talk to Coach Freeman about letting me go live?’ I told him, ‘I’m not even bringing that up with Coach Freeman. It’s not happening.’”
However, as a coach and former quarterback, Guidugli understands Leonard’s desire to take hits in practice.
“That’s just who he is,” Guidugli noted. “He’s competitive and wants to be part of the team. His willingness to want to be live in fall camp, despite his experience, shows just how tough and competitive he is.”
Aside from seeking live action, Leonard is concentrating on building a connection with the Notre Dame offense, which appears to be progressing well.
“I entered fall camp feeling extremely prepared, both mentally and physically,” Leonard shared. “After eight months of recovering from my ankle injury, I had plenty of time to think about how to come back ready. I was all set from day one.”
Leonard didn’t just theorize; he dedicated himself to the work, which has boosted his confidence going into August.
“This is the most confident and natural I’ve felt since starting college,” he said. “As a fourth-year player, I’ve experienced a lot—the highs and lows, the love and criticism throughout my career.
“Right now, I’m taking it one day at a time. I’m treating this camp as if I’m not taking anything for granted. This is my final year, and I want to give it my all.”
The next objective for the Notre Dame offense is to prove they can create big plays. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has the challenge of generating more explosive plays, and expectations are high with Leonard at the helm.
Leonard himself has high hopes.
“I’m very driven and expect a lot from both our offense and myself,” he stated. “I expect us to perform well against A&M. I’m feeling confident, and I believe we’re on the right path.”
Part of the confidence in the offense stems from their daily experiences on the practice field. Defensive coordinator Al Golden doesn’t believe in taking it easy, making practices challenging for the offense, which ultimately benefits them in the long run.
“It’s incredible to practice against this defense every day,” Leonard noted. “I’m really grateful for it because, when game time arrives, it should, theoretically, feel a bit easier to read a defense pre-snap and maintain my presence in the pocket. They apply pressure and give us every possible look. It’s going to be exciting.”
While the focus will soon shift to Texas A&M, Leonard isn’t rushing ahead.
“I’m really enjoying camp,” he said. “We moved out of the hotel recently, but I wanted to stay there, so I kept my spot because I’m so focused. I’ve been having a great time.”
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