Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM NOV. 9, 2024 7 UNDER THE DOME UNDER THE DOME Still Undervalued, It's Riley Leonard By Todd D. Burlage For all the heat that Irish senior quarterback Riley Leonard has taken this season over his spotty work in the passing game — and rightfully so — a broader look at his performance through the first seven games actually showed a steadiness and improvement that has often been under-appreciated. The Duke transfer entered the Navy game with 1,182 passing yards and 6 touchdown throws with 3 interceptions, not exactly stellar aerial numbers. Understood. But factor in Leonard's work on the ground, and it be- comes clear why he has been the best Irish player so far this season. Heading into the Navy game, Leonard ranked second on his team in rushing with 456 yards. He also averaged 6.1 yards per carry, and led the Irish with 10 rushing touchdowns — which ranked tied for third among all FBS quarterbacks. Leonard's steady improvement in the passing game is also notable. After failing to throw a scor- ing pass through his first three games, Leonard threw for 6 touchdowns in his next four games and added 6 rushing touchdowns during that same span for 12 touchdowns in four games, all Irish wins. Need more evidence into the splendid season Leonard is having on the ground? He is actually in striking reach of two Notre Dame single-season quarterback records set by two of the best scrambling Irish signal-callers in program history. Tony Rice holds the single-season Irish quarterback rushing record with 884 yards in 1989, while Brandon Wimbush holds the rushing touchdown record with 14 in 2017. Xavier Watts Has Even Been Better In 202424 By Jack Soble Honorable mention to sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love, who is enjoying the breakout season many foresaw this spring and summer. He has scored in every game and is well on pace for more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. It would be even more if Notre Dame didn't have an elite rushing quar- terback (Leonard) and a strong change-of-pace back (junior Jadarian Price). With that being said, it's Xavier Watts and it's not close. Blue & Gold Illustrated named Watts Notre Dame's MVP of the 2023 season after he tied for the national lead in interceptions with 7 and won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation's best defensive player. He was great, but here's the thing: The graduate student safety has been significantly better in 2024. Watts is a better tackler. He's missed just 3 tack- les, per Pro Football Focus — putting him on pace for just under 6 in a 13-game season — compared to 13 in 2023. He has been a monster in coverage, allowing 11 receptions on 19 targets for 105 yards (5.5 yards per attempt), particularly locking wideouts down man-to-man. He's also taken command as a leader and a captain on the back end. Oh, yeah — the interceptions are still there, too. Watts has already picked off 3 passes. He should have a fourth, but a questionable defensive holding penalty wiped it out. Any way you slice it, Watts has been spectacular this season. He made himself some NFL money by coming back to school. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHO HAS BEEN NOTRE DAME'S BEST PLAYER THIS SEASON? When Irish sophomore safety Adon Shuler won the opening-day starting spot alongside the reign- ing national defensive player of the year, graduate student safety Xavier Watts, a popular reaction was "Who's Adon Shuler?" Rated as only the No. 296 overall high school player from the 2023 recruiting class in the On3 Industry Ranking, many expected Shuler to be more of a developmental player than a second- year starter. Shuler recorded 6 tackles in 5 games as a fresh- man last season, mainly on special teams, which didn't necessarily serve as a can't-miss starter's profile. But Shuler's terrific work during the 2024 spring season, and through fall camp, lifted the Irving- ton, N.J., native to the top of the depth chart — even ahead of proven sixth-year Northwestern graduate transfer Rod Heard II — and Shuler has done nothing to lose his grip on that starting spot. Through the first seven Irish games, Shuler re- corded 15 tackles (12 solo), 2 tackles for loss, 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions, one of which he returned 36 yards for a touchdown against Georgia Tech Oct. 19. Comfortable and productive in his starting role, Shuler spoke with local media before the Navy game and discussed his season highlights, his talented teammates, and his soaring confidence. BGI: Would you revisit your interception return for a touchdown against Georgia Tech? Shuler: "I think they were running a drive con- cept to the boundary and I saw my receiver kind of get open, so I started working my way there. I saw the quarterback throw the ball and he kind of overthrew it and I was close to it." BGI: How does working with two proven safeties such as Xavier Watts and Rod Heard II help you? Shuler: "We all want to see each other be great. For me, seeing older guys who have experience when I'm not in [the game], and seeing what they're doing, and seeing the plays they make helps me a lot in my game." BGI: What stands out about working next to Watts, the national defensive player of the year? Shuler: "It makes me want to play even better because I know [Watts] is here making spectacu- lar, crazy plays. I have to match him and be a little better. That's always been my goal. Me and him, every game we kind of compare what we did." BGI: You've been a big hitter and a solid tackler at the same time. What goes into that? Shuler: "That's the feel of the game. … Always having the right technique that our coaches teach us every day, and knowing when to make the big hit, or when to make the secure tackle." BGI: Even as a first-year starter, you're already comfortable in your role. How did that confidence level come about? Shuler: "It was trusting the coaches and under- standing this is a new age of the game and we need depth. I didn't think I was going to come in and play every snap." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … SOPHOMORE SAFETY ADON SHULER Shuler compiled 15 total stops, 2 tackles for loss, 3 passes broken up and 2 interceptions during Notre Dame's 6-1 start. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Leonard Watts