{"id":274816,"date":"2025-04-24T12:01:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T12:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/24\/riley-leonard-sends-2-word-message-as-girlfriend-molly-walding-graduates-from-auburn-university\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:08:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:08:45","slug":"riley-leonard-sends-2-word-message-as-girlfriend-molly-walding-graduates-from-auburn-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/24\/riley-leonard-sends-2-word-message-as-girlfriend-molly-walding-graduates-from-auburn-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Riley Leonard sends 2-word message as girlfriend Molly Walding graduates from Auburn University"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"4889549\" data-slug-id=\"2489284\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard acknowledged his girlfriend Molly Walding\u2019s college graduation with a short message on Wednesday. Walding posted a series of photos on Instagram after completing her degree at Auburn University. Wearing a white dress and posing with fellow graduates, she wrote in her caption,<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201c<em>It\u2019s easy to say why I chose Auburn, but it\u2019s even easier to say why I love it. War Eagle!!!!\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Leonard reshared the post on his Instagram story, adding the two-word caption:<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"march-madness-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/march-madness-logo.png\" height=\"42\" width=\"99\" alt=\"march madness logo\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201c<em>Yes ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"bottom-tagline top\" data-tab=\"top\">\n<p>Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/nfl-playoff-predictor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\" class=\"bottom_tagline_link\" data-tab=\"top\">NFL Playoff Predictor<\/a> for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"Riley Leonard sends 2-word message as girlfriend Molly Walding graduates from Auburn University, Instagram\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg\"\/><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"Riley Leonard sends 2-word message as girlfriend Molly Walding graduates from Auburn University, Instagram\" src-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/5f01c-17454950026934-1920.jpg?w=640\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201200%20800%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>Riley Leonard sends 2-word message as girlfriend Molly Walding graduates from Auburn University, Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Per sources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/college-football\/riley-leonard\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Riley Leonard<\/a> and Molly Walding have been in a long-distance relationship since 2021. That\u2019s when they started college in different states. Leonard played football at Duke and later moved to Notre Dame in 2023. Walding went to Auburn University to study public relations.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>They both grew up in Fairhope, Alabama, and started dating in high school back in 2017. In 2022, Walding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@mollycwalding\/video\/715854193529523742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">shared a TikTok<\/a> showing their relationship timeline. It ended with an old photo of them as teenagers.<\/p>\n<p>At Auburn, Walding got involved on campus. In 2024, she ran for Miss Homecoming, with her campaign focused on helping students with disabilities. This was personal for her \u2014 she had cholesteatoma, a serious ear condition, since fifth grade. Leonard\u2019s girlfriend reportedly had ten surgeries and lost half of her hearing.<\/p>\n<p>Walding also wrote about her hometown and school life on her <a href=\"https:\/\/mollywalding.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">website<\/a>. She said Fairhope was one of her \u201cfavorite places.\u201d In school, she joined groups like the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. These helped shape her interest in public relations.<\/p>\n<h2>Molly Walding shared joyful moment with Riley Leonard after Notre Dame\u2019s Orange Bowl win<\/h2>\n<p>Back in January, following a close win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, Riley Leonard received support from his girlfriend, Molly Walding, who shared a celebratory photo on Instagram stories after the game. She shared an on-field selfie with Leonard and wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cI\u2019M GIDDY! Turning dreams into reality!!!!!!!\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"Molly Walding shared joyful moment with Riley Leonard after Notre Dame\u2019s Orange Bowl win, Instagram\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"Molly Walding shared joyful moment with Riley Leonard after Notre Dame\u2019s Orange Bowl win, Instagram\" src-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2025\/04\/d4520-17454952323863-1920.jpg?w=640\" bad-src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201200%20800%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>Molly Walding shared joyful moment with Riley Leonard after Notre Dame\u2019s Orange Bowl win, Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The wide receiver helped Notre Dame secure a 27\u201324 win with a final-minute drive, ending in a game-winning field goal. He finished with 223 passing yards, one TD, two interceptions and added 35 rushing yards with a rushing score.<\/p>\n<p>Walding, who\u2019s supported Leonard throughout the season, also attended the title game on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-author-info-parent\">\n<span class=\"about-the-author\">About the author<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"author-info-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-pic-holder\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"author-pic\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,&lt;svg width=\" height=\"100\"\/><rect width=\"100\" height=\"100\" style=\"fill:rgb(128, 128, 128);\"\/>&#8221; data-lazy=&#8221;https:\/\/keedag.sportskeeda.com\/user-pic\/4408491-1740984008-200.jpg?w=200&#8243;<br \/>\nalt=&#8221;Heena singh&#8221; height=&#8221;72&#8243; width=&#8221;72&#8243;&gt;\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-bio-detail-holder\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p class=\"author-bio\" id=\"author-bio-text\">\nHeena Singh is an NFL writer at Sportskeeda with over four years of experience in the field, most recently with Essentially Sports.  Prior to that, Heena worked with 73buzz.com, where she covered off-court sports content. She has also worked in the entertainment industry for Fandom Wire, Animated Times and Koimoi, and has also studied Business Psychology.<\/p>\n<p>Heena is a Kansas City Chiefs fan but also has a deep respect for the Baltimore Ravens. 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