Duke professor drops bomb on Riley Leonard after Clemson upset
There’s a reason they’re called student-athletes. After Duke stunned the nation on Monday with a 28-7 win over No. 9 Clemson, a hilarious video began to spread online.
In the short clip, Duke quarterback Riley Leonard asked his professor for an extension on his homework, which was due at midnight. The next day, Leonard received a response. Yet, not the one he was hoping for.
“This is classic,” ESPN’s Tom Luginbill told On3’s Andy Staples. “The professor gets somebody to film him and he goes right after Riley. He tells him point blank, he goes, ‘You know, two of your offensive linemen, your teammates, who play right in front of you, that are also in this class, they prepared ahead of time and already turned in the assignments. That’s what you should have done. So no, you don’t get an extension. I mean, he literally just dropped the mic on him.”
Luginbill was essentially-spot on with his retelling of the story. If anything, Leonard’s professor, Donald H. Taylor, was even more brutal.
“Wesley Williams and the other linemen who were in the class, they said they prepared ahead and did it ahead of time, so why didn’t the quarterback?” Taylor said. “So no way, man. No extension.”
Riley Leonard receives high grades on the field
Luckily for Leonard, his offensive linemen do a better job of protecting him on the field than they do in the classroom. In Duke’s win, the Blue Devils’ front five allowed zero sacks against a Clemson team that boasted 40 sacks a season ago.
Leonard didn’t let the protection go to waste. The junior QB exploded for for 175 passing yards while rushing for 98 yards, as well. Leonard’s legendary performance was highlighted by a jaw-dropping 44-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the second half to extend Duke’s lead to 13-7.
Amid any missing homework, Duke head coach Mike Elko is proud of his quarterback.
“He’s a competitor,” Elko said after the win. “He’s gritty as heck. When the game’s on the line, he finds ways to make plays. He’s done it since I got here. He’s why we’re in this position.
“This is Duke football,” he said. “We’ve got the best of both worlds. A chance to really compete and do amazing things on and off the field. This is what I envisioned Duke could be when I took this job.”
On Saturday, Elko will have a chance to see his vision again. The Blue Devils will take on Lafayette at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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