Former Notre Dame and Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, an Alabama native, was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday.

Leonard, who played his high school football at Fairhope, went with the No. 189 overall pick. He led the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national championship game this past January.

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Leonard played in 43 career games at Duke and Notre Dame, totaling 7,311 yards and 45 touchdowns passing. He added another 2,130 yards and 36 touchdowns rushing.

Leonard’s NFL.com draft profile reads in part:

“Leonard has adequate size and is an above-average competitor with good toughness. However, he fails to hit the mark as a pro-caliber passer. He’s a dual-threat quarterback who falls more firmly on the side of grit than gifted. He can make controlled throws inside his comfort level, but his accuracy and timing dip when he has to work beyond primary reads. He’s relatively careful with the football in the red area and in the face of pressure. He can move the sticks with his legs on called runs or when pressured.

“Leonard is average as a field-reader and doesn’t have enough arm to beat NFL defenders on seam throws or outside the numbers. He needs a solid running game and advantages at the skill positions to function on a pro level, but even then his play might be more dependent on his legs than his eyes and arm.”