Editor’s note: The A-List is AL.com’s ranking of the top 15 recruits in the state of Alabama’s Class of 2021. The list will be updated several times during and after the 2020 season. The countdown continues today.
Riley Leonard made a name for himself largely on the basketball court as a junior, helping his Fairhope Pirates to the Class 7A state semifinals.
However, he punched his ticket to college in football.
Leonard, the Pirates’ dual-threat quarterback, committed to play football at Duke in May after wavering for a while on which sport to pursue in college.
“Last month, I really wasn’t sure,” he said then of his choice of sports. “I love them both, but football is the right path for me.”
Leonard comes in at No. 14 on AL.com’s A-List of top senior football prospects in the state. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound standout completed 102-of-172 pass attempts for 1,231 yards as a junior with a predominantly young team around him. He also ran for 499 yards and eight touchdowns on 96 carries.
“Riley is a real easy kid to sell,” Fairhope coach Tim Carter told AL.com in May. “He’s athletic, he’s intelligent, he’s competitive and he has the size requirements that they look for at that level. He’s not just tall. He can run and jump. All of those factors are what you look for in a quarterback.”
Leonard is ranked as one of the top three quarterbacks in the state, along with Eastern Shore rival Trent Battle of Daphne and Will Crowder of Gardendale. Leonard also had football offers from Nebraska, South Alabama, Southern Miss and Syracuse among others.
He had multiple college basketball offers as well after a season that garnered him first-team All-State recognition. Leonard averaged 20.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game for the 24-5 Pirates. He also had 58 blocks and 76 steals. He also was named the AL.com/Edward Jones Coastal Male Athlete of the Year.
A-LIST 14: RILEY LEONARD, FAIRHOPE
Position: Dual-threat quarterback
Height/weight: 6-4, 200
College status: Committed to Duke on May 18, 2020.
First 2020 game: vs. Spanish Fort on Aug. 20.
SI All-American Scouting Report: Leonard is a multi-sport star who has got all the tools to become a great dual-threat quarterback at the next level. With some more time spent in the weight room and polishing his skills he could have the ability to compete at an early age in the Power Five.”
A-LIST PROFILES
NO. 15: TRINITY BELL, ALBERTVILLE (Tennessee commit)