Tag: Riley Leonard

Oct 28, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks to pass the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Duke QB Riley Leonard enters transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, who missed the last four weeks of the regular season with a toe injury, entered the transfer portal Wednesday and said his goodbyes on social media.

ESPN reported that Notre Dame is expected to target Leonard.

Leonard hits the portal days after head coach Mike Elko departed Duke for Texas A&M. Leonard took to his Instagram page to say, “Thank you, Duke.” Leonard is tagged in the portal with a “do not contact,” meaning he reaches out to schools but doesn’t want programs reaching out to him.

Leonard also missed Duke’s Oct. 14 home win over North Carolina State with a knee injury.

The junior completed 95 of 165 passing attempts for 1,102 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 352 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground.

Last season, Leonard appeared in 13 games and threw for 2,967 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named MVP of the Military Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks to pass the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Duke QB Riley Leonard (toe) out for ‘extended time’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard has an injured left toe and will be out for an “extended” period, ESPN reported.

That means freshman Grayson Loftis will start his first college game Thursday night against Wake Forest (4-4, 1-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) in Durham, N.C.

Leonard hurt his toe late in Saturday’s loss to Louisville. He previously suffered a right ankle injury in a loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30.

He missed the Oct. 14 home win over North Carolina State but played the past two weeks — losses to ranked opponents Florida State and Louisville. The Blue Devils are 5-3, 2-2.

Henry Belin IV, who started against NC State, has an upper-body injury, opening the door for Loftis.

Loftis, a freshman from Gaffney, S.C., has thrown just five college passes, completing three of them for 30 yards against Louisville.

Per ESPN, no timeline has been established for Leonard to return to the Duke lineup. The junior has completed 95 of 165 passing attempts for 1,102 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s added 352 rushing yards and four TDs on the ground.

Last season, Leonard appeared in 13 games and threw for 2,967 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named MVP of the Military Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) runs a keeper during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Duke QB Riley Leonard game-time call vs. Florida State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard is considered to be a game-time decision for Saturday’s contest at No. 4 Florida State, ESPN reported.

Leonard, who is expected to participate in pregame drills on Saturday, is nursing a high ankle sprain suffered in the Blue Devils’ 21-14 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30.

Redshirt freshman Henry Belin IV would receive his second straight start for No. 16 Duke (5-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) if Leonard is unable to play against the Seminoles (6-0, 4-0).

Belin completed just 4 of 12 passes for 107 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Blue Devils’ 24-3 victory over North Carolina State on Oct. 13.

Leonard has completed 79 of 125 passes for 912 yards, three touchdowns and one interception this season. He also has rushed for 326 yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA;Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (13) looks for a receiver during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Duke QB Riley Leonard (ankle) day-to-day

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duke quarterback Riley Leonard is now considered day-to-day after suffering a high ankle sprain nine days ago against Notre Dame.

Mike Elko, head coach of the No. 17 Blue Devils, said Monday that Leonard was making “really strong progress” in his recovery.

“I do think the outlook for him the rest of the season is really positive,” Elko said.

Duke (4-1) is returning from a bye week one week after losing 21-14 at home to then-No. 11 Notre Dame.

Leonard was hurt in the final seconds of that game when his right leg bent awkwardly amid a strip-sack. He was on crutches as he left the field.

Henry Belin IV, a redshirt freshman, is next in line for Duke if Leonard cannot play Saturday against NC State.

Leonard is 79-for-126 (62.7 percent) passing this season for 912 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

–Field Level Media

Nov 6, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Riley Leonard (10) is tackled on a keeper during the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

Riley Leonard wins Duke quarterback competition

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Riley Leonard will be the starting quarterback for Duke’s season opener against Temple on Friday in Durham, N.C.

First-year Blue Devils coach Mike Elko announced his decision Sunday, with Leonard beating out fellow sophomore Jordan Moore.

“After a very intense quarterback battle this fall, we have decided to go with Riley Leonard as our starting quarterback,” Elko said in a statement. “We are excited to see him lead our team this fall, and we also know that Jordan Moore will be an impact player for our offense in many roles as well.”

Leonard played in seven games (one start) in 2021, completing 37 of 62 passes for 381 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 47 times for 173 yards and two scores.

Moore played in 10 games last season, completing 9 of 19 passes for 95 yards and one touchdown. He rushed 44 times for 221 yards and three TDs.

–Field Level Media