With an expanded playoff and a big-time transfer QB, Notre Dame has its sights set high for 2024.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- There are days when Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman admits he gazes over at Notre Dame Stadium and envisions a frigid December night, a packed crowd and the rarest happening in Notre Dame's rich football history -- a first.
Entering Freeman's third season with another high-profile transfer at quarterback, there's optimism for Irish fans to invest in a heavy coat and wool hat for some December football in South Bend. Those hopes will hinge on Leonard, who has a lone season in South Bend to lead the Irish and burnish his NFL draft stock. He accounted for 33 touchdowns -- 20 passing and 13 rushing -- in 2022 at Duke before a flurry of frustrating injuries limited him from finishing the final three of the seven games he played last year.
But learning names is a window in Leonard's desire to build a relationship with everyone, as he's done everything from taking defensive lineman Jason Onye golfing to plotting some fishing ventures on local ponds. To land Leonard, Notre Dame's recruiting staff earned his respect by digging deep into the school's archives to research his great-grandfather on his mother's side, James E. Curran, who played there in the 1930s. The staff took every mention and picture of him and put together a pamphlet for the family. Leonard, who grew up a Notre Dame fan in Alabama, jokes that his mom gave him a look when she saw the book that indicated he had no choice but to commit.
There are issues for Notre Dame on offense. There are two offensive tackles who project as top-10 and top-100 NFL draft picks. Then there's the seemingly annual search for some high-end wide receiver play, and a new tailback needing to emerge after the departure of
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