When he’s not playing for Notre Dame, Riley Leonard spends time with his girlfriend of over five years, Molly Walding.

The quarterback, who led the Fighting Irish to the semifinals of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff, and the public relations student crossed paths in their shared hometown of Fairhope, Alabama, and began dating in 2017. However, they currently attend different schools – he at Notre Dame in Indiana and she at Auburn University in Alabama – and continue to support each other from afar.

“A day to brag about the most humble guy there is!!!!” Walding captioned a photo together from 2023. “Riley is kind, funny, loyal and easy to love! Happy 21st birthday!”

In addition to cheering Leonard on the sidelines virtually and in person, the student is also working on her bachelor’s degree in public relations and serving as a recruiting officer for her sorority, Chi Omega. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is also the social media manager for a Christian ministry on her campus.

Walding’s next chance to cheer on her friend is Jan. 9, when Notre Dame takes on Penn State.

So who is Riley Leonard’s girlfriend? Here you can find out everything about Molly Walding and her relationship with the football player.

They grew up in the same town

Both Walding and Leonard are from Fairhope, Alabama, a coastal town on the edge of Mobile Bay. On her website, the Auburn University student described her hometown as one of her “favorite places” and said she was active in several clubs growing up, including the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America.

“Growing up, I found community through engagement,” Walding wrote. “I believe that the values ​​of community, creativity and gratitude really bring us together. A strong community thrives on open, honest communication in which everyone’s voice is heard.”

She is studying public relations

The Alabama-born student began studying at Auburn University in 2021. Walding wrote on her website that her passion for a career in public relations stems from “a deep interest in building relationships.”

“I have always valued human connection and my coursework has further deepened my understanding of the power of strategic communication,” she wrote on her website. “I strive to use these skills to positively influence others and make a significant impact on the world of PR.”

During her time on campus, Walding worked as a student recruiter for the university as well as a recruitment officer for the Chi Omega sorority. She also completed a public relations internship with the City of Fairhope.

They started dating in 2017

The high school sweetheart started dating in 2017. Walding shared a sweet TikTok video in 2022 counting down the years they’d been together, ending with an old photo of them at age 14.

Two years later, she celebrated their anniversary with an Instagram video that showed clips of them in high school, at college football games, and having fun together.

“Celebrating an Irish victory and celebrating our 7th anniversary!!!!!!” she wrote in the caption. “I couldn’t be more grateful for you @riley.jleonard 🤍.”

She advocates for people with disabilities

In 2024, Walding ran for Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming pageant. Her campaign focused on raising awareness of the school’s Office of Accessibility, which provides support and accommodations to students with disabilities.

She told Eagle Eye TV in 2024 that her interest in the topic came from personal experience — she was diagnosed with cholesteatoma, an inner ear cyst, in fifth grade. Walding had to undergo ten surgeries to remove the cyst, but it had already damaged all the bones in her inner ear, leaving her with only 50% of her hearing.

“I just want to highlight that it is the differences that make us all unique and make up the Auburn family,” Walding said The Auburn Plainsman in 2024. “So just encouraging people to talk about it a little bit more, break the stigma and bridge the gap between those who have shelter and those who don’t.”

She helped him find his faith

Walding and Leonard are both Christians. In a December 2024 essay for The Players’ Tribune, the Fighting Irish quarterback wrote that he found his faith in ninth grade after fulfilling his childhood dream of playing on his high school varsity football and basketball teams to establish.

“I thought it was the coolest thing in the world…for like a week???” Leonard wrote. “But then the exhilaration somehow faded… I felt this strange emptiness inside me. And that’s when I started paying attention because all these people in my life were preaching the Bible.”

He continued, “Whether it be on a mentorship level, like with some of my football coaches and pastors in the church, or on a personal level, like when I met my friend Molly and she took me to church. As I began to find my faith and find meaning beyond just being an athlete, I felt like the world had somehow opened up to me. And I ran with it.”

You are in a long distance relationship

Leonard and Walding have been attending schools in different states since 2021. She chose Auburn University in Alabama and he began playing football at Duke University in North Carolina. In 2023, he transferred to Notre Dame in Indiana, according to ESPN.

Although they don’t live in the same state, Walding and Leonard make an effort to see each other when their busy schedules allow it. She surprised him with a visit in June 2022, and he returned the favor a few years later.