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Newsstand: Possible Notre Dame transfer portal addition named 2024 Heisman Trophy candidate

Kyle Kellyby: Kyle Kelly12/11/23ByKyleKelly
Riley Leonard
Former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard faces Notre Dame on Sept. 30, 2023. (Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s never too early to identify next season’s Heisman Trophy candidates. And ESPN senior writer Mark Schlabach did just that by naming 15 after LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels won the 2023 edition of the award Saturday night. He included a Notre Dame transfer portal target on the list.

On Saturday, Schlabach tapped former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard as a Heisman Trophy contender in 2024. Leonard, the former Blue Devils signal-caller, entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Nov. 29. He is searching for a new school to continue his college career, which could end with the most recognizable award in the sport. 

Notre Dame is the most talked about destination for Leonard — especially after the 6-foot-4, 212-pounder visited campus last Wednesday and Thursday. He has not reported any other visits. 

In 27 games during his Duke career, Leonard completed 382-618 (61.8%) passes for 4,450 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He is also an exceptional runner, racking up 1,224 yards and 19 scores on 229 carries.

Leonard’s best season came as a sophomore in 2022. He connected on 250-391 (63.9%) throws for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns and 6 picks. He registered 699 yards and 13 scores on the ground on 124 carries.

Leonard missed five games in 2023 after sustaining an ankle injury in a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30. He finished his last season in Durham, N.C., with 1,102 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on 95-165 passing. He had another 352 yards and 4 touchdowns on 58 rushes. 

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Irish defensive line coach Al Washington displayed his excitement after graduate student defensive lineman Howard Cross III announced on Sunday he was returning for a sixth season.

Irish graduate student wide receiver transfer Kris Mitchell — formerly of Florida International — featured former Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins’ Notre Dame commitment. 

The Irish are one of four programs with seven Heisman Trophy winners.

Notre Dame Quote of the Day

“There’s no other program with the exposure and respect they have week in and week out. What also stood out to me was Coach (Marcus) Free (Freeman) and the respect that he already has throughout the program from the top down. Joining up with other ballers on the offense is going to be a sight to see in the near future.”

— Collins to On3’s Hayes Fawcett on his decision to commit to the Fighting Irish on Sunday. 

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