FAIRHOPE, Alabama (BP) — Ryan Smith remembers the scene after Riley Leonard’s team at Fairhope High School lost a big game against a major rival.

Leonard, the starting quarterback for Notre Dame, is “just the most humble kid you’ve ever met,” said Smith, the student pastor at First Baptist Church (FBC) in Fairhope. “He’s standing outside the bus telling everybody to pick their head up. Come on, we’re going to do it next week,” Smith said.

Leonard, whose Fighting Irish will face Ohio State University Monday night (Jan. 20) in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship, was an active participant in youth group activities at First Baptist Church while a high school student. He and his family attended a nondenominational church, but Leonard would regularly visit small groups and Wednesday night youth activities with FBC.

His commitment to the Lord hasn’t changed. In media interviews throughout Notre Dame’s playoff run, Riley has been quick to speak about his faith in Christ.

“I looked up and said, Jesus, whatever your will is for my life, I trust it 100%,” he said in an Orange Bowl post-game interview Jan. 9 following Notre Dame’s 27-24 win over Penn State.

In an article Leonard wrote for The Players’ Tribune Dec. 18, he said his faith “is really what’s guided me as a person for a long time — both on the football field and off of it.”

Leonard said he began attending church regularly as a high school freshman.

“Once I started to find my faith, and find a purpose besides just being an athlete, I feel like the world kind of opened up for me,” Leonard wrote. “And I ran with it.

“I started diving into the Bible, and learning all these valuable lessons,” he continued. “One of the biggest lessons was how nobody is greater than anybody.”

As a quarterback with the spotlight often shining on him, Leonard said it’s tempting to put himself above other people and “start to think that you’re somebody.”

“But you’re not,” he wrote. “One of my favorite Bible verses, Matthew 23:12, it says: ‘Those who exalt themselves or praise themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be praised.’ I wear those words on my wrist every game.”

Smith said Leonard was true to his word. Smith is the chaplain for the Fairhope High School football team, and Leonard is the same age as Smith’s daughter, so he’s observed Leonard closely for several years. Smith still texts Leonard before games with prayers and words of encouragement.

Following his high school career in Fairhope, Leonard played at Duke for three years before transferring to Notre Dame. Smith said in his early years at Duke, Leonard received much criticism for his faith. Despite that, he started a Bible study group with other athletes that became popular.

This season at Notre Dame, Leonard has led the Fighting Irish to a 14-1 record and a shot at their first national championship since 1988.

“My favorite movie growing up was ‘Rudy’ and my great-grandad, James Curran, played for Notre Dame back in the 40’s,” Leonard wrote on his website. “Notre Dame’s culture, academics, and winning tradition made for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m proud to be back in my high school colors of blue and gold.”

He hopes the opportunity he has will bring glory to Christ.

“The Lord has put me in this situation for a reason, and to be able to publicly display my faith is something I take a lot of pride in,” Leonard said in a CFP media day interview Jan. 18. “I don’t think I’m really deserving of this platform, but Jesus put me here, so I’m going to do everything I can to boast his name.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Tim Ellsworth is associate vice president for university communications at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.)