Transfer Portal Quarterback Target Leonard Signs NIL Deal with Gillette

Former Duke signal caller Riley Leonard is one of the most sought-after transfers

Michael Ehrlich | Dec 11, 2023

Transfer Portal Quarterback Target Leonard Signs NIL Deal with Gillette /

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Duke Blue Devils

When the transfer portal officially opened on December 4, Duke quarterback Riley Leonard was one of the top names to enter. As players across the country decide on their next football destinations, the former Blue Devil remains one of the most anticipated free agents who can immediately help turn a program around.

Riley put Duke's football program on the national map this season. Prior to injury in the Blue Devils' seventh game, their captain led them to their highest ranking - No. 16 - since 1994 and first-ever appearance on ESPN College GameDay.

With all eyes on Leonard as he mulls his transfer portal move, he announced a new NIL partnership over the weekend with Gillette.

“This is a really organic partnership for me as I've been using Gillette products for a while," Leonard shared with Sports Illustrated. "I do try to keep a clean look, I tried growing out the beard and let's just say it wasn't exactly a success. GilletteLabs just makes a lot of sense for me and I'm excited to see where things go.”

Leonard shared his first Gillette content on his Instagram, with more to come in this campaign.

Although his toe injury cut the 2023 season short, Leonard started all 13 games for Duke in 2022 throwing for 2,967 yards, 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 699 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

His experience and performance speak for themselves. Heading into this season there were only two quarterbacks with 20+ passing touchdowns and 13+ rushing touchdowns in 2022: Leonard and Heisman Trophy finalist Bo Nix of Oregon. Additionally, there were only two quarterbacks with at least 2900 yards passing and 700 yards rushing in 2022: Leonard, Nix and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU. Not bad company for the Duke quarterback.

With an official visit to Notre Dame last week in the books, Leonard's NIL stock can continue to rise with an upcoming move, especially to a program like the Fighting Irish. In addition to Gillette, his NIL partners include Rhoback, Raising Cane's, Leaf, Panini, Haggar, Topps, and Wildcard, among others.

Published Dec 11, 2023

MICHAEL EHRLICH

Michael Ehrlich is a seasoned sports marketing executive with experience across the global sports brand, athlete representation, media and education sides of the business. The Founder and CEO of Playbook Marketing, Ehrlich consults with brands on all things NIL and athlete partnerships, advises student-athletes on their personal brand building endeavors and is an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of Southern California where he teaches a course on athlete communications and marketing. As a writer, his previous bylines include Boardroom, Business of College Sports, DIME Magazine and UPROXX, among others. You can follow him across social media at @MichaelEhrlich and reach out via michael@playbook-marketing.com