ATLANTA — At the time, they were two quarterbacks preparing for the biggest season of their lives.
Soon-to-be starting quarterbacks at Notre Dame and Ohio State, Riley Leonard and Will Howard, attended Nicholls State University's famed Manning Passing Academy over the summer.
They were roommates, preparing for the pressure cooker of big-time college football on two of the biggest brands in college football.
Inside the cotton bowl. Getty Images
“I never imagined that a few months later we would be here with two new schools playing in the national championship,” Howard said Saturday as Ohio State and Notre Dame continue to prepare for the tournament. “Ginger, that's a really great thing.” Monday night's national championship game.
Their trajectories are eerily similar: transfers who joined established programs and led their respective schools to the final game of the season despite doubts, each suffering an ugly loss.
The dual-threat senior had some individual success at his previous bases: Howard at Kansas State and Leonard at Duke.
But it's nothing compared to this season.
Howard set career highs this year in completion percentage (72.6), touchdown passes (33) and passing yards (3,779).
Leonard ran for 866 yards and 16 points, both career bests.
They have totaled 11 touchdowns in the playoffs, each with big wins in the games that mattered the most.
But their value goes beyond their on-field ability. In both cases, new teammates had to be persuaded in a short period of time.
No position is more important than quarterback. He is the leader.
Traditionally, that has been done over multiple years rather than months.
“I couldn't imagine it,” said ESPN analyst and former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy. “It's hard to lead people. It's obviously hard to maintain gravitational pull with your teammates. It's hard to build the relationships you need to have them rely on you when their career could be over in an instant.” That's the most notable thing to develop in a period of ~8 months. “We can talk about skill sets, and we can talk about throwing, catching, running, and all of that is great. You can talk, but when you're a team leader and you can be a team leader. Leading a team within 12 months is a complete oversight that took years to develop. [my teammates’] trust. ”
In the case of Howard and Leonard, they prove to be uniquely likable characters.
Notre Dame players raved about Leonard's positivity and never-say-die attitude, always with a smile on his face.
When starting left tackle Charles Jagusa suffered a torn right pectoralis muscle in August, Leonard immediately sent him an inspirational video to cheer him up.
Stay connected to the most important sports news
Sign up for Starting Lineup for the biggest stories.
Thank you for registering
Leonard wasn't able to practice in the spring, but he was still able to build relationships quickly.
Using Quizlet, he quickly learned everyone's names and scheduled frequent golf outings during the summer.
“It starts with how genuine a person he is,” offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said. “People are drawn to that kind of authenticity.” [person]. Care, consideration, and a great work ethic are what win the locker room. ”
Ohio State said the same thing about Howard.
Upon arriving in Columbus, he worked to blend in with his surroundings.
While he was certainly one of the big transfer additions and a key player for next season, Howard tried to keep a low profile. He had a new playbook to learn and teammates to befriend.
“At least for me, and the way I transitioned, I wanted to get to know everybody first and then come in, and I wasn't going to lead everybody and be picky about orders from the beginning,” Howard said. “Just come in there and say, 'Hey, I want to be a part of this.' Like, I want to be a Buckeye, I want to figure out what it's all about.” I didn't want to get too strong. . ”
In both cases, there was not only leadership, but also performance, and it happened naturally.
McElroy called Leonard and Howard a throwback, calling them quarterbacks who would throw their bodies away for a crucial first down.
They are a new era in terms of their journey, reaching the sport's biggest stage in their first year at a new school. It will be the first time the two transfer quarterbacks will start opposite each other in the national championship game.
“It's crazy. When I first met him, we were just two underrated guys trying to make our mark,” Leonard said. “It’s come full circle for us to be here now.”