In a dramatic turn at the Orange Bowl, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard left the game due to a hit, but returned heroically to tie the score, showcasing why NFL scouts might still have their eyes on him.

Despite a brief exit for concussion evaluation, Leonard's comeback moment — scoring a third-quarter touchdown to level the game at 10 — not only demonstrated his resilience but also reminded NFL scouts why he's still on their radar, proving that a little shake-up can't halt a rising star's dreams of professional glory.

Before his unexpected and short-lived leave of absence, Leonard had managed to complete 6 of 11 passes for 63 yards. Not a staggering number, but solid enough to keep the opponent guessing while racking up a respectable 7 rushing yards, just to remind everyone that he's not just a pocket passer.

In Leonard’s absence, Steve Angeli stepped in and completed a staggering 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards. This heroic effort seemed to orchestrate a symphony worthy of an acclaimed composer, culminating in a field goal that kept the game on a knife’s edge. One might assume Angeli was channeling Leonard’s energy… or perhaps just making sure he didn’t get too comfortable riding the pine.

Leonard's re-entry into the game, devoid of symptoms post-concussion, wasn't just a happy accident; it signaled the kind of determination often found in a documentary about comeback athletes. He promptly made his presence known by scoring that pivotal touchdown, tying the game at 10 apiece and casting doubt over the dreams of those wearing rival colors — a little chaos goes a long way when securing the allegiance of fans.

Having previously spent three years at Duke honing his skills, Leonard arrived at Notre Dame with a robust set of stats: 2,383 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions to his name this season. These numbers, coupled with his 843 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, paint the picture of a dual-threat quarterback who knows how to play a game of cat and mouse on the field. Of course, whether he can do that at the professional level remains a tantalizing question for scouts and fans alike.

With NFL teams observing talents like Leonard, one can’t help but wonder about his draft stock. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining, and perhaps for Leonard, this cloud may just result in a lucrative contract that grants him the chance to throw a football professionally from the comforts of an air-conditioned stadium — or wherever they deem home-field advantage to be.

However, the real trick for Leonard will be staying healthy and keeping the momentum alive. Being declared asymptomatic after a hit is one thing, but consistently dodging the proverbial bullets in such a physically demanding sport is another. As proven time and time again, a quick jaunt to the sidelines can lead to a longer stay in the availability report if his luck runs out.

So, as the Orange Bowl wrapped up, it became clear that Riley Leonard’s journey is far from over. With aspirations to enter the NFL draft looming like a prom date hanging out in the shadows of the gym, he’ll likely be analyzing every play, every pass, and perhaps every burrito he eats, while mentally preparing for a future that could easily take a turn for the brighter — or, for a college athlete, hopefully less concussion-prone.