‘21 AL QB Riley Leonard (Duke Transfer - Notre Dame Verbal)

[Dizzyphil]

I think you can say that about a lot of coaches right now, even seasoned ones with the new portal. How he finishes the cycle will be more telling than how we are starting it.

Teams in general - not just the coaches. If you go on X (Twitter) and look at what's 'Trending' the Transfer Portal is hot. Literally almost every P5 team has player(s) entering it.

 

[Blazers46]

Weather isn’t awesome in NC right now

I’m more worried about where he might go then where he’s leaving.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Man, I love MF as a person and as a representative. But I'm starting to worry he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

Just starting?

 

[PutuporShutup]

I’m more worried about where he might go then where he’s leaving.

Just saying won’t be shell shock

 

[T-Boone]

I am going to support this dude if he heads over. Let’s go get ‘em.

 

[NDdomer2]

I hope you guys don't think this is a lot of transfers compared to what the rest of FBS is going to go through in the next week. ND is going to end up having 15-20 transfers. A lot for ND, no doubt. The average number FBS teams are going to have is 20-30. Relax. This is new for ND, but this isn't at all abnormal. FSU had 22 last year, LSU 21, Ole Miss 34, Louisville 25, Oregon 32, Oklahoma 23, Texas 21, Georgia 15, Alabama 22.

I personally hate it and what it's becoming, but this is the era that we live in. ND isn't immune from it.

Now tell us how many each of those schools transferred in.

 

[tko]

There has to be a different approach than getting a transfer QB every year. How on Earth do you recruit the position going forward and sustain success? I guess this is the way of college football, but I just don't like it.

 

[stlnd01]

There has to be a different approach than getting a transfer QB every year. How on Earth do you recruit the position going forward and sustain success? I guess this is the way of college football, but I just don't like it.

Well, ideally, either Minchey or Carr (who both appear to have higher ceiling than Angeli) steps into the No. 2 spot under Leonard this season and actually plays enough that by this time next year you feel confident that they can start, and that guy is then your presumptive starter for the next two or three seasons.
That should be the plan. I assume it is?

 

[notredomer23]

Now tell us how many each of those schools transferred in.

ND is still at 94 scholarships being used. If a number like 20 more depart/transfer, ND would only have to take 10 transfers to reach 85 (assuming Talich gets a scholarship).

 

[tko]

Well, ideally, either Minchey or Carr (who both appear to have higher ceiling than Angeli) steps into the No. 2 spot under Leonard this season and actually plays enough that by this time next year you feel confident that they can start, and that guy is then your presumptive starter for the next two or three seasons.
That should be the plan. I assume it is?

We can only hope this is the mindset. I'm losing a lot of faith in MF. It'll be a big task to close strong for signing day and add some needs via the portal.

 

[DillonHall]

There has to be a different approach than getting a transfer QB every year. How on Earth do you recruit the position going forward and sustain success? I guess this is the way of college football, but I just don't like it.

It’s a year-to-year decision

2023: Hartman vs. Buchner- easy decision
2024: Leonard vs. Angeli/Minchey- also an easy decision IMO but it depends on how you view Leonard I suppose. I think we got caught up in some of Hartman’s WF stats and ignored his shortcomings. Hopefully Leonard is able to put all his physical tools together next year.

In 2025, hopefully Minchey and/or Carr will be good enough to play compared to any available transfer.

 

[stlnd01]

We can only hope this is the mindset. I'm losing a lot of faith in MF. It'll be a big task to close strong for signing day and add some needs via the portal.

FWIW (and knock on wood) but signing day is in less than three weeks. Has there been any smoke about any of our commits wobbling? Or for that matter any smoke about any more commits coming in?

Obvs there's time yet for nonsense, but I honestly can't remember a Notre Dame recruiting cycle with less drama, especially for what is really a pretty strong class. Even in BK's later drama-free years there were always a few question marks at this point.

Considering all the drama of the last 12 months around coach hires and the portal, that's fine by me.

 

[Lberry]

People way overrate taking a transfer QB at a time of need, thinking that somehow has a long term impact on ability to recruit 4-5 star QBs. Another myth. It's case by case and 4-5 star HS QBs think they're the man.

 

[stlnd01]

People way overrate taking a transfer QB at a time of need, thinking that somehow has a long term impact on ability to recruit 4-5 star QBs. Another myth. It's case by case and 4-5 star HS QBs think they're the man.

Agree, I don't think it really matters to high-end recruits but it does matter in other ways.

Taking a one-year-rental year after year is a huge roll of the dice. So far it's worked out pretty well with Coan and Hartman, but if you land on the wrong guy, you're kinda screwed. Also there's no consistency. Hartman and Leonard, for instance, are rather different QBs as far as skill set. Are we going to redesign the offense each year to fit each QB's skills? Or ask the QB to fit into an offense that may not be ideal for them? And of course we're not in the market for a multi-year transfer, mostly just GTs, so we're fishing in a smaller pond (of guys who almost by definition are not going to be early-round draft picks). This year there are like three QBs that make sense for us. Looks like we'll land one of them but I don't think you can always rely on that.

Personally I'd rather have one recruited/developed QB start for two-three years, like Book did. I think that should be goal after '24.

 

[Lberry]

Didn't USC, Oregon, Tennessee all sign the best of the best 2023 QBs? Right after tranfering in? The overlap isn't there for it to be an issue for recruiting.

 

[PutuporShutup]

ND is still at 94 scholarships being used. If a number like 20 more depart/transfer, ND would only have to take 10 transfers to reach 85 (assuming Talich gets a scholarship).

I think you'll see maybe 13-16 more departures and 5-8 incoming portal players

I think there are a number of ND players that are graduating, aren't that great (to play at ND), and are deciding do they just want to finish their career at this bowl game, or do they want to go elsewhere and try and play one more year as a grad transfer.

Carmody, lewis, kristofic, kiser, botelho, salerno, baker, bauman,

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

There has to be a different approach than getting a transfer QB every year. How on Earth do you recruit the position going forward and sustain success? I guess this is the way of college football, but I just don't like it.

You gave the andwer right in your post. You recruit the position. Hartman and potentially Leonard are necessary to make the team competitive due to the prior staffs inability to recruit the position. We were supposed to be hunting championships and that regime signed Brendon Clark, Drew Pyne, Tyler Buchner and Steve Angeli in conservative years.

Thats gross.

And for what its worth, Jurkovec was the year before that run started, and the year before Jurkovec they took nobody. 🤮

 

[OhioIrish]

There has to be a different approach than getting a transfer QB every year. How on Earth do you recruit the position going forward and sustain success? I guess this is the way of college football, but I just don't like it.

I don’t honestly don’t think there is a better way. It’s so much easier to transfer today, programs would be foolish not to consider taking a transfer QB if they are not 100% sure of their guy. The wrong guy under center can make a 10-2 season a 5-7 season real quick. My two cents, I would active in the portal every year.

 

[mrmcgrail]

With next year's schedule you have to go for it again. Bk shit the bed in quarterback recruiting leaving them with a lower ranked guy in angelli and then your young stud freshmen's behind them which probably need at least another year in the system to be a full go if you are serious about the playoffs.

 

[SoIll]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/91142/2

ISD sounds unsure on what Riley is going to do, some of their sources feel very strong about Auburn

 

[lcaps20]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/91142/2

ISD sounds unsure on what Riley is going to do, some of their sources feel very strong about Auburn

This would be....not great.

 

[AvesEvo]

This would be....not great.

But it would be typical.

 

[thekid33]

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/91142/2

ISD sounds unsure on what Riley is going to do, some of their sources feel very strong about Auburn

That would not be good since we already told Howard, "Thanks, but no thanks." Other than those two, I don't know that there's anyone in the portal worth adding. So, if we can't land one of them, I guess "In Angeli We Trust."

 

[irish2104]

Also states on ISD Leonard hasn’t followed any auburn players and has followed half ND team targets and recruits… there just hearing auburn is confident has well which I mean of course there saying that

 

[stlnd01]

Also states on ISD Leonard hasn’t followed any auburn players and has followed half ND team targets and recruits… there just hearing auburn is confident has well which I mean of course there saying that

I’m sure Auburn is confident, just like we’re often “confident” about recruits who go elsewhere.

But Leonard is friends with Hartman, is following half our team on IG, and is visiting Notre Dame this weekend? While Auburn is basically “well he’s from Alabama…” ?

Not gonna sweat this one until there is some actual reason to.

 

[PigtownIrish]

I think Auburn has the girlfriend card, too...

 

[notredomer23]

I think you'll see maybe 13-16 more departures and 5-8 incoming portal players

I think there are a number of ND players that are graduating, aren't that great (to play at ND), and are deciding do they just want to finish their career at this bowl game, or do they want to go elsewhere and try and play one more year as a grad transfer.

Carmody, lewis, kristofic, kiser, botelho, salerno, baker, bauman,

Salerno can't come back.

Here are the grads: Devyn Ford, Kevin Bauman, Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody, Andrew Kristofic, Jordan Botelho, Howard Cross, Rylie Mills, Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, JD Bertrand, Cam Hart, Clarence Lewis, Antonio Carter, Xavier Watts.

I think of those 16, 7-8 will probably depart. I expect Ford would return? But I don't really know. 1 or 2 of the OL. Botelho, Cross, Mills, Kiser, Carter, Watts.

As I type that out, the defense certainly looks exciting but the lack of veterans and leaders on offense is seriously concerning.

 

[NDpendent]

Also states on ISD Leonard hasn’t followed any auburn players and has followed half ND team targets and recruits… there just hearing auburn is confident has well which I mean of course there saying that

He followed all those ND players before we lost 5 of his potential future targets to the portal

 

[PutuporShutup]

I don’t honestly don’t think there is a better way. It’s so much easier to transfer today, programs would be foolish not to consider taking a transfer QB if they are not 100% sure of their guy. The wrong guy under center can make a 10-2 season a 5-7 season real quick. My two cents, I would active in the portal every year.

ND is set up to be good 2024-2027\2028 with their own recruiting of HS qb players… just have to get there with better seasons to keep recruiting momentum

 

[PutuporShutup]

Salerno can't come back.

Here are the grads: Devyn Ford, Kevin Bauman, Tosh Baker, Michael Carmody, Andrew Kristofic, Jordan Botelho, Howard Cross, Rylie Mills, Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, JD Bertrand, Cam Hart, Clarence Lewis, Antonio Carter, Xavier Watts.

I think of those 16, 7-8 will probably depart. I expect Ford would return? But I don't really know. 1 or 2 of the OL. Botelho, Cross, Mills, Kiser, Carter, Watts.

As I type that out, the defense certainly looks exciting but the lack of veterans and leaders on offense is seriously concerning.

It’s a numbers game