Kicker Harrison Leonard commits to walk on at Notre Dame

Harrison Leonard didn’t receive a scholarship offer, but the opportunity to be a walk-on for the Notre Dame football program was enough for him to announce a verbal commitment to the Irish on Thursday night.

Notre Dame special teams coordinator Brian Polian extended the senior kicker an invitation to join the Irish as a preferred walk-on after watching him practice at Avon (Conn.) Old Farms on Thursday.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Leonard previously made an official visit to Notre Dame for the Vanderbilt game in September. National kicking coach Jamie Kohl ranks Leonard as the No. 7 kicker in the 2019 class. 247Sports slates him as a two-star recruit and the No. 22 kicker in the class.

Leonard could have the opportunity to contribute at Notre Dame early in his career. Justin Yoon is in his final year of eligibility. Sophomore Jonathan Doerer has been limited to kickoff duty at Notre Dame and struggled at times with that responsibility.

Regardless of who gets the job, the Irish will likely be using a kicker next season who has yet to attempt a field goal in college.