Notre Dame backup quarterback Steve Angeli got a chance to start in the team’s Sun Bowl showdown against Oregon State, taking over for the veteran Sam Hartman, who hit the sidelines as he prepped for the NFL Draft.
Angeli remained on the roster through the two transfer portal windows, sticking it out with the Fighting Irish despite the fact that they took in another veteran quarterback in the transfer portal.
But the arrival of former Duke quarterback Riley Leonard seems to only have been a boon for the quarterback room so far.
“Just in general Riley’s been great,” Steve Angeli said. “He’s been a great addition to the room, just his experience. We’ve been able to talk about it’s always great when you have a guy that’s played ball. He’s been a great addition to the locker room in our room, just driving competition, so it’s been really great.”
Leonard can certainly do that.
During his last fully healthy season at Notre Dame in 2022, Leonard racked up 2,967 yards passing and 20 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. He also ran for 699 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He’s a verified dual-threat prospect at the college level. A good one, at that.
Naturally, there’s the potential for some discord to emerge in the room should Leonard be named the starting quarterback. Angeli will be hoping he can compete for that job, especially after going 15-of-19 for 232 yards and three touchdowns in that lopsided Sun Bowl win.
During the team’s spring game, though, the two were still working hand in hand.
Both got a chance to experiment with the new headset communications, too.
“Today I couldn’t hear him, it was just the coach that was giving me the play,” Steve Angeli explained. ” But being able to check with him after, be like, ‘Hey, what did you see there?’ just comparing, it was really good.”
If that chemistry lasts into the fall, Notre Dame should be in great shape. The Fighting Irish have put some real talent around the quarterback and seem to be finding their footing in the Marcus Freeman era.
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