“I knew I was going to get back out there.” A single concussion ain’t stopping Riley Leonard from taking the Irish to Natty!! See, no matter how much Marcus Freeman thanks god, one thing he will always admit is that he and his boys aren’t just gonna toss their fate into the Lord’s hands. “What you can’t do is sit here and say, ‘I’m just going to let God handle everything and not do the work.’” This is exactly where the Notre Dame quarterback jumps in.

Not only has Riley Leonard changed the beat at South Bend, but he has also been doing it in his own style. Imagine getting up from that big a tackle against the Lions, then throwing a 50+ yard touchdown pass… But hey, the god’s best wishes aren’t the only thing keeping Riley in the game. There is one other person who has had Riley’s back for the last 7 years, and that support has kept the QB going on and on and on….

Who is Riley Leonard’s Fiancee?

Meet Molly Walding. She comes straight from Fairhope, Alabama, born to devoted Christian parents, Mike and Anna Walding. Mike got his own big steakhouse at Auburn: Big Mike Steakhouse. Which has been operating since 2020. And Anna? Well, from her Instagram pictures, she looks no less than a model, we must say. But wait, if you want to know more about Molly and Riley, then we have to roll back the tape to the golden 2010s.

Molly and Riley were lucky enough to attend the same middle school back in Alabama. “Experience The Excellence” at Fairhope Middle School, and well, Riley did cause he pretty much found his forever partner!! 2016 was when they first met, and by 2017, the young folks were already in a happy lovey-dovey relationship!!

You know what’s funny? Their entire high school dating arc reminds us of those good old sports romance flicks where the standout player falls in love with that one cheerleader. Guess what? For Riley and Molly, that was the case. Leonard was throwing massive plays at Fairhope, and Molly was a cheerleader. And as fate would have it!! They clicked!!

“Celebrating an Irish win and celebrating 7 years of us!!!!!! I couldn’t be more thankful for you,” Molly wrote on her Instagram account while sharing a compilation of clips of her and Riley. 7 long years. Who could’ve thought, huh? Despite them attending different universities in 2021, their love never faltered!!

Molly was well on her way to finishing up her Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication degree at Auburn Uni, and Riley was starting at Duke. And despite moving to ND in 2023, they still went on strong,g and it was reported that they got engaged on October 25, 2024!!

Even as Riley preps for his showdown against the Bucks and what is arguably the most hyped game of all season, Molly is right there waving her flag of support for her beau. “Gameday! So proud and so excited (if I haven’t said it enough already!)!!!!!!! Cheering @riley.jleonard on for the rest of my days!!” Molly wrote on her Instagram. Riley, you better get her tons of oranges if ND wins.

But hey, if you have ever wondered what Molly does other than cheering for the Irish and Riley, then fear not. We have got you covered.

What Does Molly Walding Do for a Living?

Her Christian roots shine from her dedication to being a YoungLife Leader. Some good volunteering work for the Lord and helping students strengthen their relationship with the almighty!! She has been doing this since April 2022. Other than this, Molly has also worked as a Sales Employee at Christina Lynn (part-time) for around a year and seven months.

She is also good with graphic design because she interned for the City of Fairhope. Molly has also worked as a Social Media Manager for Auburn-Opelika YoungLife, and right now, she is currently working as Auburn University’s Student Recruiter.

It is so refreshing to see such a young, devoted couple together and going through the stages of life. More power to you, Molly, and Riley!!