Notre Dame's Riley Leonard shows faith is top of mind during win over Texas A&M
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard’s faith was clearly on his mind as he took snaps for the Fighting Irish against Texas A&M on Saturday night.
Leonard used eye black to make a cross on the left side of his face, where it stayed throughout the entire game as the No. 7 Fighting Irish topped the No. 20 Aggies, 23-13.
Riley Leonard looks down the field Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (13) passes the ball against the Texas A&M during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
The quarterback, who transferred from Duke, went up against his former head coach with the Blue Devils, Mike Elko, and was 18-of-30 with 158 passing yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass. Instead, running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price rushed for scores.
Additionally, fans caught Leonard wearing a Bible verse around his wrist. The verse was from Matthew 23:12, which states, "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."
Leonard admitted in February that his faith had been a factor when deciding which school he would want to transfer to. The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic institution.
Riley Leonard talks to Holly Rowe
Aug. 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) speaks during a post-game interview at Kyle Field against the Texas A&M Aggies. (Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports)
"Every single person in that city that I came into contact with helped me with my faith. I'm able to bring that here. Obviously that's the most important thing in my life," he told The Irish Tribune at the time. "When I go to bed at night, I’m not thinking, ‘How many touchdown passes did I throw? Did we win or lose?’ I'm thinking, 'Did I better my relationship with Jesus Christ? Did I treat my girlfriend with respect? Did I call my parents?"
It was clearly on display on Saturday night.
By Ryan Gayson via. Fox News Sports
How Alabama's Ty Simpson performed in season opener
Alabama used three quarterbacks during its 63-0 victory over Western Kentucky last weekend. After Milroe left the game late in the third quarter, Simpson led the Tide on three drives before giving way to Dylan Lonergan to close out the game.
Simpson was solid, leading the Tide to touchdowns on two of his three drives. The redshirt sophomore completed 5 of 9 passes for 66 yards and added 32 yards on a pair of carries, including a 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Simpson was 2-for-2 on passe that traveled 10-19 yards past the line of scrimmage. That included a nice strike to Kobe Prentice that saw the quarterback evade pressure to his right before finding the receiver for a 20-yard gain on his first pass of the game. Simpson’s numbers could have also been better if not for a pair of drops on shorter passes.
Excerpt from Tony Tsoukalas via. TideIllustrated.com
Luke Altmyer’s four touchdown passes leads Illinois past Eastern Illinois 45-0
HAMPAIGN — Luke Altmyer threw for 213 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Illinois past Eastern Illinois 45-0 Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.
Altmyer spread the wealth while completing 19 of 24 passes. Eleven receivers caught passes, three for touchdowns. Pat Bryant had two TDs, giving him 11 for his career. Malik Elzy and Tanner Arkin also caught TD passes.
Kaden Feagin led Illinois’ rushing attack with 16 carries for 108 yards. It was his first career 100-yard game. He ran for a touchdown and so did Josh McCray. Aidan Laughery ran for 79 yards on 10 carries.
Illinois scored on all five of its trips into the red zone, outgained Eastern Illinois 486-196, and had 27 first downs to the Panthers’ nine,
Four Eastern Illinois turnovers were turned into 24 points by the Illini. Miles Scott caused a fumble and had an interception.
It was 31-0 at halftime.
Eastern Illinois had a promising opening drive, but Scott forced a fumble by running back Jay Pearson and Seth Coleman recovered on the Illini 23.
That turned out to be the Panthers’ deepest penetration into Illinois territory until late in the third quarter, when Dylan Rosiek chased down Eastern Illinois receiver DeAirious Smith after a pass completion, Smith fumbled, and Kaleb Patterson recovered on the Illini 13.
Altmyer threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bryant following Coleman’s fumble recovery. That came on the play after an Altmyer-to-Zakhari Franklin touchdown pass was ruled incomplete and confirmed by video review after a challenge by Illinois.
Via. Associated press
IPM Newsroom
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard using NIL deal to give back to offensive line
"Notre Dame starting quarterback Riley Leonard was not sacked once against Texas A&M.
Now he is using his NIL brand to show appreciation to his offensive line. The former Duke transfer was set to sign an endorsement deal with Dick’s Sporting Goods for an appearance in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Instead of just pocketing the cash for the solo appearance, Leonard is bringing his entire offensive line. The Notre Dame players are scheduled to meet with fans on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. All the funds will go to Leonard’s offensive line."
Bo Nix Partners with Mizzen+Main
Mizzen+Main: "We are thrilled to welcome rookie starting Quarterback Bo Nix to our athlete ambassador family just in time for Week 1 kickoff. With new opportunities comes new pressures, and we take great pride in outfitting Bo for pre and postgame this season ensuring he’s as cool and comfortable as he can be as he navigates life on football’s biggest stage. Shop Bo's favorite Mizzen picks below, and be on the lookout for more content with Bo coming soon. https://bit.ly/475FR2E"
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard signs six-figure partnership with Rhoback
"As Notre Dame prepares for its season opener against Texas A&M, Riley Leonard has inked one of his most lucrative NIL deals to date.
The Fighting Irish quarterback has signed a season-long partnership with Rhoback. Full terms of the deal were not released, On3 has learned Leonard’s agreement with the activewear brand is worth up to $100,000. He’s repped by QB Reps.
The apparel company has emerged as a major spender in the NIL Era. The former Duketransfer joins a growing list of ambassadors, including Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Penn State’s Nick Singleton. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers signedearlier this week for a deal valued between $100,000 to $150,000."
Alabama QB Ty Simpson inks multi-year NIL deal with Harbin Automotive
Ty Simpson will be riding around Tuscaloosa in a new truck this fall.
The Alabama quarterback and former five-star recruit has inked a multi-year NIL deal Harbin Automotive. As part of the agreement, Simpson will appear at meet and greets and post on social media for Harbin Automotive. He could be featured in future advertising campaigns, too.
Repped by QB Reps, Simpson will receive a new Ford or Chevrolet truck every several months in exchange for his work promoting Harbin. To start the NIL partnership the quarterback will be driving a new 2024 Chevy Silverado.
“As fourth-generation business owners, character and integrity have been the building blocks of our 85-year-old family business,” said Win Harbin, owner of Harbin Automotive. “When NIL partnerships became an opportunity, those two things were non-negotiable for us. Ty embodies these qualities and more and we are excited to partner with him for the upcoming season and years to come.”
Via Pete Nakos, On3
Vizzina ‘Blossoming’ in Spring Practice
Going into spring practice, Dabo Swinney was hoping that redshirt freshman Christopher Vizzina would show continued growth this spring as he got more reps behind starting quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Ten practices in, Clemson’s head coach loves what he’s seen from the Tigers’ backup quarterback in that regard.
“To see where he is, that’s probably been the biggest plus for us this spring is seeing him and seeing his confidence, seeing his grasp, his understanding,” Swinney said of Vizzina following Wednesday’s scrimmage.
“All of us expected to see what we’re seeing out of Cade. We weren’t sure with CV (Vizzina). Through 10 practices, he’s given all of us a little bit of a ‘take a deep breath.’ I feel good about this kid, man. He looks like the guy that we thought he would be when we recruited him. So, I’m happy for him, excited for him.”
At the outset of spring practice, Swinney said it was Vizzina’s job to prove to the Tigers by the end of spring ball that he can not only compete with Klubnik, but also win games for Clemson if his number is called upon.
Based on what Swinney has seen from Vizzina so far this spring, Swinney feels the Tigers can win with Vizzina at QB if needed.
Via. Gavin Oliver- The Clemson Insider
Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard wins Air It Out at Manning Passing Academy
One of the top quarterback camps in the country is the Manning Passing Academy, where they annually bring in some of the best collegiate quarterbacks as counselors.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard was invited to the prestigious camp, and it’s not just mentoring high school prospects, the college players take part in competitions as well. The Irish starter battled against Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Texas A&M’s Connor Weigman.
Leonard came out victorious in the accuracy competition, earning him the title of Air It Out champion. This is a great sign for Notre Dame fans, especially considering the starter had to sit out most of the spring with an ankle injury…
Alabama QB Ty Simpson dropping dimes in off-season training
Alabama football quarterback, Ty Simpson looks to be taking no days this off season as he prepares for his redshirt sophomore season with the Crimson Tide.
QB Country of Tennessee shared a video of Simpson working through several throws while on the run. Simpson looks to be letting it rip and dropping accurate passes.
Simpson played in six games during the 2023 football season, completing 10 passes for 179 yards.
Via Touchdown Alabama.
Tennessee QB Commit George MacIntyre Showcases Impressive Skillset
The Tennessee Volunteers have had some impressive quarterback play under Josh Heupel over the past couple of years. Hendon Hooker in 2022 put up great numbers, Joe Milton caught people's eye with his massive arm and Nico Iamaleava is expected to have a big year this next season. Now it's Tennessee commit George MacIntyre showing off his abilities on the internet.
The Elite 11, the biggest quarterback competition in the country, posted clips of MacIntyre throwing the ball in a variety of drills and it was nothing short of impressive. The 2025 commit has remained locked in with the Volunteerssince January of this year, and he showed exactly why he is rated as a five-star.
MacIntyre is one of ten commits in the Volunteer's 2025 class and is rated as one of the best players in the country. The Brentwood, Tennessee native will be a massive addition to a Tennessee offense that favors the quarterback position. MacIntyre not only possesses accuracy but a big arm that will fit right in with Josh Heupel's offense that really spreads things out and allows quarterbacks to cut it loose.
Via Johnathan Williams, Volunteer Country
Riley Leonard Is Establishing Himself As A Leader For Notre Dame
The first official day of summer is still a couple weeks away, but the “summer” portion of the Notre Dame football calendar is officially here. Members of the Fighting Irish football team are back on campus after some time off campus as they dig into their first summer conditioning program with first year director of football performance Loren Landow.
One of the big questions heading into the summer workouts is the health of transfer quarterback Riley Leonard. Head coach Marcus Freeman informed the Irish media last week that Leonard was "full go" for summer workouts, which is big news for the Notre Dame offense.
Leonard not getting as many reps during the spring as hoped for is something the Irish will need to overcome, but even with him not getting those reps he established himself as a leader for Notre Dame.
"I'm also surprised when I hear from Landow and some of those guys,” Freeman recently said. "He's one of the most competitive individuals even in this football program now. Yeah, he's a good football player. Yes, he competes on the field. But when you hear that and it's not in practice, you're talking about workouts, that tells you a lot about who he is. He's a leader."
Via. Sean Stires, Irish Breakdown
QB Luke Altmyer Starts First Opener Against Eastern Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini kick off their season with a Saturday showdown on Aug. 31 against the Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer is starting his first opener for the Illini after transferring from Mississippi. The 21-year-old discussed the adjustment period with the team following a 116-yard, two-touchdown performance in a late-April spring game.
"That's kind of the deal with me, being more assertive, more urgent in my game," Altmyer said. "It comes with a lot of things. It comes with reps. It comes with being more comfortable with what I'm doing ... I'm excited to move forward and looking forward to the fall and being able to showcase it."
Via Anthony Pasciolla, Illini Now
Tennessee 5-star Commit, George McIntyre, Inks first NIL and accepts Elite 11 Invite
“Nashville Brentwood Academy five-star quarterback George MacIntyre committed to Tennessee in late January, choosing the in-state school over the likes of Alabama, LSU and others. Since that announcement, MacIntyre has embraced the role of ‘lead recruiter’ for this 2025 Volunteers class.
On Monday, MacIntyre earned an invitation to the Elite 11 Finals this summer in Los Angeles.
There are few higher honors for high school quarterbacks than being invited to the Elite 11 Finals. The event, which will celebrate its 25th year in 2024, brings together the country’s elite signal-callers for three days of competition and training in Los Angeles.”
2026 QB Jared Curtis Signs NIL Deal After Commitment to Georgia Football
Georgia recently gained its first commitment for the 2026 recruiting class as quarterback Jared Curtis committed to the Bulldogs this past Saturday. Although Curtis is just a high school junior, he has already signed his first NIL deal since his commitment.
A company called Leaf Trading Cards introduced Curtis’ very own signed player card. The item is listed for $79.99 on Leaf Trading Cards’ website for fans to purchase.
Post-Draft, Bo Nix Receives New Brand Endorsements
Denver Broncos first-round pick Bo Nix added to his growing list of brand partnerships with a number of activations around the NFL Draft…
Broncos select QB Bo Nix with 12th-overall pick in 2024 NFL Draft
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After months of offseason speculation and countless mock drafts, the Broncos have made a major addition at the game's most important position.
Denver selected Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th-overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The 2023 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and a Heisman Trophy finalist, Nix led Oregon to a 12-2 record in his final season as he completed 77.4 percent of his passes and threw for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and three interceptions. He also recorded six rushing touchdowns.
Nix spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Auburn Tigers before transferring to Oregon ahead of the 2022 season. In two seasons with the Ducks, he posted a better than nine-to-one total touchdown-to-interception ratio as he accounted 94 total touchdowns in 17 games.
Via Aric DiLalla, Denver broncos
Bo Nix Ranked 1st Among 2024 QB Prospects in 5 Advanced Metrics
The Denver Broncos are still basking in the elation of getting their guy at No. 12 overall last Thursday night. While the draftniks in the media, perhaps in an effort to justify their jobs, continue to throw out the sub-par grades on the Broncos' draft class, Sean Payton and GM George Paton aren't losing any sleep over it.
No, the Broncos got their guy. A "point guard" on the grass and a "pied piper" when it comes to his magnetism within the locker room and leadership acumen. That's who Bo Nix is.
The MMQB's Albert Breer took Broncos fans inside the team's decision to select Nix, and the months-long run-up to the draft, during which Payton and Paton work very hard to keep their true QB intentions under wraps.
Via Chad Jensen, Mile High Huddle
Bolt TV Announces Original Series with Quarterback Bo Nix "Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft"
Quarterback Bo Nix stars in new documentary series "Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft" chronicling his path to the NFL, premiering May 1st on Bolt TV.
Bolt TV is named exclusive media partner for Bo Nix' draft day party.
Bolt TV is thrilled to announce the launch of its original documentary series with Quarterback Bo Nix "Grit & Glory: Journey To The Draft", directed by Nate Simmons and produced by Bolt TV. The series offers an exclusive inside look into the life of collegiate quarterback Bo Nix as he prepares for the biggest night of his career: the NFL Draft.
Via PR Newswire
Watch the trailer here
Broncos First-Round QB Bo Nix Talks Sean Payton Expectations in Year 1
Denver Broncos GM George Paton said it a week ago: Bo Nix "was our guy." The 2024 NFL draft board fell in a fortuitous way for the Broncos, plopping the record-setting quarterback right in their lap at No. 12 overall.
The Broncos didn't think twice. Nix was always going to be the pick if he was there at No. 12.
The Broncos don't draft QBs in the first round too often, unlike many of their peers around the NFL who seem to dip back into the well every few yers. As just the fifth quarterback to be drafted in the first round by Denver in the past half-century, Nix arrives with some outside expectations.
But there are some internal ones, too. Namely, what Nix's head coach, Sean Payton, demands of his QB1. The rookie QB stands ready to meet them.
"Just from what I know about his offense, it's all about efficiency," Nix said via the team website. "And he wants a quarterback that can get the ball where it needs to go, on time, over and over and over. It's always making the right decision. I'm excited to learn and go back over all my preparation just to get ready for what's next."
Via Chad Jensen, Mile High Huddle