Countdown to Kickoff: Quincy Riley is the Saints Player of Day 29
We are less than a month away from the New Orleans Saints regular season opener. On September 7, the Saints will host the Arizona Cardinals in their first game under new head coach Kellen Moore. It will also be the first game in a Saints uniform for several players. One is rookie cornerback Quincy Riley, who wears No. 29. As our Saints Player of the Day, this is a closer look at Riley.
A letterwinner in football, basketball, and track at A.C. Flora High School in South Carolina, Riley would initially attend Middle Tennessee University of Conference USA. He'd redshirt in 2019, then in 2020 had 2 interceptions to help win a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman squad. In 2021, Riley broke up 9 passes and had 5 interceptions with one touchdown with the Blue Raiders to earn 1st Team All-Conference USA honors. He'd transfer from Middle Tennessee to Louisville after that season, where continued standout play.
Riley had 3 interceptions and a touchdown return for the Cardinals in 2022, with his 101 return yards leading the ACC. He'd follow that up with 12 pass breakups, 3 more picks, and 75 return yards in 2023. Last season, Riley had 2 interceptions and led the ACC with 13 passes broken up on his way to a 2nd Team All-ACC selection.
With their second of two choices in Round 4 of this year's draft, the Saints chose Riley. It was a pick that New Orleans acquired from Washington last November when trading corner Marshon Lattimore. Perhaps it's fitting that the Saints used that choice on a corner. Riley's No. 29 was also last worn by Paulson Adebo, a standout corner for their defense from 2021 through last season. Riley could help ease the losses of Lattimore and Adebo quickly.
Quincy Riley is an outstanding athlete with terrific coverage abilities and elite ball skills. It is hoped that he can take over as the other starting cornerback alongside 2024 second round choice Kool-Aid McKinstry. Riley is already turning heads early in training camp, making several plays and holding his own in coverage against the starting New Orleans wide receivers. Riley is certainly a player to watch, as the Saints hope they have a day 3 drafted steal for their rebuilding defense.
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