For Darius, there was always something about Kayla. Shaquille Leonard - Wikipedia He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The rise and rage of Colts rookie Darius Leonard Quite the opposite. Charlie writes his brother a letter every game. We did everything together walked the streets, played ball and threw hands whenever was needed! moving past the stigma related to mental health conditions during an During the time of writing, he maintains a career stat of 61 games played, 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and 549 total tackles. Katy Kellner Bio: Early Life, Husband, Baby Who Is Angelia Jefferson? Anthony With His Siblings (Source: Instagram). The Colts know how important health is - to their football team and their community. [23] In Week 15, Leonard broke the Colts' franchise record for most tackles by a rookie in a single season with 143, in a 230 win vs the Dallas Cowboys. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Leonard was projected to be a second or third round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. with other NFL players, including the Atlanta Falcons' Hayden Hurst INDIANAPOLIS -- It started out as a pause on the phone. Thats the kind of guy is, King says. (He bears personal responsibility for the team not winning and can describe, with pinpoint accuracy, the final play, when Lake Views opponent went for two on the last play of the game.) [9][10], The Indianapolis Colts selected Leonard in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Im getting emotional, tearing up. Its still hard on him, his mother says. Instead, he is a college graduate and an NFL All-Pro. 'I'll give it one last whirl.'". "Just seeing him off the field - the hard work he puts in and what he puts into this game and this life," Kayla said. He was hit from behind and knocked cold, dying after a brief stay in the hospital. two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. A second round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, all of Darius' dreams were coming true. [15] Head coach Frank Reich named Leonard the starting weakside linebacker to start the regular season in 2018, alongside Najee Goode and middle linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.[16], He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Colts' season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and recorded nine combined tackles and recovered a fumble in their 3423 loss. "Claflin and South Carolina State have a fence that separates them," she said. They started dating during their junior year. Before Keivontes death, she had never seen Leonard show any real emotion. "Get ready to rock 'n' roll when time comes.". If it werent for football, Id probably be dead or in jail, is an abused clich but it might not be far-fetched to say that, because of football, Leonard is not dead or in jail. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he wants to be known by his middle name, Shaquille. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00am at his church. Spr 15. "We always competed. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season. Or he was playing baseball or at home playing cards with friends. In his rookie season, Leonard led the league in tackles and was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year; he was also voted into the NFL Top 100 the following offseason. In the NFL, Lake View, South Carolinas Darius Leonard has created a nova. As Leonards junior season in college ended, Lake Views playoff run was just beginning. Rather than go out, where they knew they would get looks of disapproval and feed town gossip, they hung out in private, or with a few friends. Anthony was like a role model for his younger brother, Darius. So, he didn't waste any time. Darius Leonard steps out of his in-laws house on a five-acre farm. According to Colts.com, he was the first player since Bryan Cox in 1992 to record at least 125 tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles in a single season. Leonards favorite portrayal is YFN Luccis 2016 song, Everyday We Lit I came up from nothing / Did it on my own / I swear I aint never expected it to be like this.. Kayla spotted him drifting from the celebration, so she followed him to the back of the room. "The awareness is so critical," The real meaning of Christmas is bringing people together in the spirit of love, hope, and joy. He wanted to play at Clemson, like his brother, Anthony Waters. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he got a chance to show Clemson, the national championship runner-up, what it was missing. after going through his own struggles following the death of his Shaquille, for a long time. Hi, I'm Prajita Karki. "That's what had been eating me [38] Speaking with reporters on Tuesday at Colts training camp, Leonard said he'd like to be called by his middle name, Shaquille, going forward, per Colts reporter Larra Overton. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. His brother Anthony Waters did and even led the Tigers in tackles in 2005 with 109, according to Clemsons team site. Another life-changing call came when sitting in a Waffle House on a night in December 2012. [4] He also won the MEAC defensive player of the year award again after the 2017 season. Leonard pushes away sympathy from his family. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He suffered a setback in his back injury leading up to Week 10 and was placed on injured reserve on November 12, 2022.[47]. Kayla played softball for Claflin University. On November 11, 2017, Leonard proposed to his girlfriend Kayla, whom he had known since kindergarten, after SC State beat Hampton. hopeful the message is able to reach those in need. Lake View's Leonard follows in brother's footsteps | Sports News | scnow.com Skip to. Jeffrey Brown/Icon . [25] He finished his rookie season in 2018 with 163 combined tackles (111 solo), eight pass deflections, seven sacks, and two interceptions in 15 games and 15 starts. In astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly and momentarily shines thousands of times brighter, allowing onlookers to appreciate its previously hidden brilliance. For Leonard, this was a chance to right another wrong: To help Lake View win the title that he had failed to bring home as a high school senior. A class clown, Leonard had to work in his senior year to get his grades and SAT scores high enough to be Division 1-eligible. When the house was particularly crowded, they shared a bed. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. After the 2010 season, he became a free agent. video Mini-Movie: 2022 postseason, from Jags' 27-point comeback to Kelce brothers'. The football field is not an escape from the trauma of his childhood. The video captured hearts - a young football player tearfully reading a thank you letter to his coach. Darius Leonard's Girlfriend: Who is Darius Leonard Dating? Anthony was a role model to his brother Darius, and he pushed Darius to be who he is today. But through it all - their love has only grown. Darius Leonard Brother: Bio, Early Life [2023 Update] - Players Bio He would run through the early morning gloom to the weight room at his high school. Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. They called me Two Dollars because thats how much they cost. Leonard answered with more jokes rather than show how much it hurt. Leonard said. While attending SCSU, he regularly drove the two hours to Lake View to help coach the football team, calling head coach Daryl King with notes on upcoming opponents. Keivante and Darius were born a year apart and shared a bedroom growing up. Finally, Leonard says, big schools had come calling even his dream school, Clemson, was offering a spot but he decided to stay at SCSU. Indianapolis Colts Sign Darius Leonard to 5 Year $98.5 Million Contract Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not willing to shut the door on a potential return of running back Ezekiel Elliott after the first wave of free agency and the draft, telling reporters the "ship has not sailed.". Depth charts: Offense | Defense I wanted to put them on notice.. "My kindergarten classmates were my graduating classmates.". Leonard and Anthony chose a different path than his brothers. He played college football at South Carolina State and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts. "I left work early because I was teaching and I had my work clothes on. [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. It didnt work, he says. Leonard appeared on the July 12, 2020 episode of Celebrity Family Feud in which the NFL rising stars took on retired NFL Hall of Famers, which included players such as Michael Irvin and Cris Carter. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. Leonard with his wife Kayla Leonard, and their daughter, Mia. And what made it fun in high school was that when I would go work out after school - she worked out with me. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" I wasn't the full energetic guy I would Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as an assistant coach at the Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland, from September 2012 to January 2014. [20] On October 4, 2018, after totaling 54 combined tackles (which led the league, and was most by a player in first four weeks of the season since 1994) and four sacks (leading all rookies) in September, Leonard was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month. Leonard has a tattoo of his brother, Keivonte Walters, who was killed in 2012. Leonard did two stints at a friends house, sleeping in a living room and a barn. and the Las Vegas Raiders' Solomon Darius Leonard Girlfriend: All About Kayla Sanderson! Daryl King, their high school coach, would frequently phone Waters. "We were all around him watching TV and he was on the phone with Chris Ballard and the family got so loud he had to tell everybody to be quiet. There is a diamond-studded 53 hanging from one of a few gold chains. But this was also another reminder of the person who wasnt there. It's the season of giving. When he returned home one day, Anthony recalls giving Darius a duffle bag filled with cones, resistance wires, and a speed ladder and telling him, If you want to make it, you will have to go and get it on your own.. We had a mutual friend who had a barn and we would go there and hang out with all of our friends. To Leonard, that meant his professional football dreams were over before they began. Leonard faced another obstacle in high school. Darius Leonard, who has a net worth of around $63 million, is ranked seventh on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires as of October 2022, according to Forbes. Darius Leonard and company will likely be a borderline playoff team again next season. Darius Leonard looked into the young man's eyes, and once he managed to look past the anguish and regret and hopelessness, he saw something that looked strangely familiar. He played collegiate football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. weight. Despite their scarcity, the meals were good. Leonard isolates himself and cries. [42], In Week 15, Leonard had 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception in a 27-17 win over the New England Patriots, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Lewis McGruder (1949-2017) - Find a Grave Memorial [8] Leonard attended the NFL Scouting Combine, but was unable to complete all of his combine drills after injuring his quadriceps while running his 40-yard dash. She talked trash to me. Youre an injury away from not playing this game anymore. Where we grew up, when something like that happens, it often leads to fights or revenge, Ford said. The two-time All-Pro agreed Sunday to a five-year. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. Waters, a single mother, had to work multiple jobs at once to keep food on the table and the lights on for her nine children. Leonard is still recovering from back surgery he underwent on June 7. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Both his twin, Tyrell, and his younger brother, Dante, met untimely deaths as he has battled with attempting to resurrect his career after an ACL injury he suffered back in 2020. "He set this goal and he reached it, he set this goal and he reached it, and then one day he was like, 'I'm going to play in the NFL,'" Kayla said. Leonard missed three of those early games in concussion protocol after an injury in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Before every game, Leonard winds tape tightly around his wrist and up his forearm. Leonard pushes his daughters stroller through a Lake View High School football game. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. "We've got to reach that person who is sitting in But the pictures are funny. And her eyes - they kept me coming back.". We had a great time.". They know their love can conquer anything. help. I never saw him like that. It made all the difference in the world, King says. Hes great in space, a sure tackler, and he came into the league with a knack for blitzing.. [14], Leonard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. Anthony Waters seemed to have a bright NFL future before tearing his ACL in the first game of his senior season at Clemson, Leonard said. On March 28, 2019, Mia Leonard was born. "I always wanted a big wedding and he knew I wanted a big wedding. I have a empty spot if my heart that nobody can fill up but you! He ultimately earned Pro Bowl honors that season too. We had our t-shirts from kindergarten and we signed our names right beside each other.". Meanwhile, Darius' football career was taking off. "I would love if y'all would try to call me Shaquille or 'D' or 'Maniac' and not Darius," Leonard said. In 2011, an interracial relationship was still taboo in their tiny Southern town. His five interceptions led all linebackers and tied for fourth in the entire NFL. Make sure you put that in there," he laughed. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's picture-perfect 'Peanut The furry face of the franchise since 2006 - this summer, Colts mascot, Blue, will be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. Two fierce competitors, they challenged each other in every way. And they've been inseparable ever since. From $100K on his wedding to $280K on classic cars, find out everything Darius Leonard spent the first million dollars in the NFL on. He completed the bench press, 40-yard dash, 20-yard dash, and 10-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He had been saving his scholarship refund checks and used a friends employee discount to buy a ring from Kay Jewelers. Leonard has been informally nicknamed "Maniac" due to his energetic and productive on-field play. importance of reaching out for help," per Battista. On October 14, 2009, Waters agreed to join the Buffalo Bills practice squad. He became a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and did play at Death Valley as an opponent. Check it out! [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. God let my child live his dream, whether or not he buys me nothing. She was very good at all three sports," he said. Darius Leonard put his team on blast after the loss - Sportscasting (He somehow was not a Pro Bowl selection.) In general manager Ran Carthon's first draft in charge in Tennessee, the Titans made six selections, all of them on offense, the first time since at least 1994 that the club used all of its selections on one side of the ball. It was like, 'Wow. San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Beginning at 9 a.m. After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. Darius is married to his long-time lover, Kayla Sanderson. Failed to pay a fine or appear in court? Safe Surrender is a - Yahoo Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. He was a big clown, Leonard says, smiling. It is safe to say that this season has not gone according to plan. Leonard has the most total All-Pro selections and the most First Team All-Pro selections by a linebacker in Colts history. He said Cody is in prison because he was an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time.. Super successful country singer Darius Rucker's family - BHW He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. inside," Leonard told Battista. "It was definitely tough, but everybody there was keeping her head straight, letting her know that it was going to be alright.". Leonard looks forward to celebrating that milestone, but he knows he is going to get it the same way he gets everything else: with hard work and Kaylas support. I was giving her a hard time. Darius Leonard With the Indiana Colts (Source: Stampede Blue) After the NFL draft, Darius signed a four-year contract worth $7.24 million with the Indianapolis Colts on July 23, 2018. And the Eagles feel the same way about their new acquisition, with GM Howie Roseman already looking forward to seeing what Swift can do playing with his hometown team. On June 4, 2021, Leonard welcomed daughter Laila. His wife, Kayla, is the only person who sees that he occasionally aches from the trauma of his past. Fresh off the 2023 NFL Draft, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach's checklist has plenty of to-dos and one high atop the agenda is working out a new deal with defensive lineman extraordinaire Chris Jones. Why did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? - Sportskeeda Growing up in Lake View, I heard the N-word used regularly, Kayla says. [28], In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard made 10 tackles and one sack on Marcus Mariota as the Colts won 1917. It's fun to have someone who loves what you love.". According to the police report, Keivonte was thrown or slammed against a wall. He struck his head, immediately after which he became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. 2 brothers in prison, another killed. Sleepless nights, grief - Reddit On the eve of his 27th birthday, Shaquille Leonard has decided to make a distinct change entering his fifth NFL season. "I definitely loved that - an athlete who was just as good in their sport as I was in mine.". As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. Leonard became the highest-paid outside linebacker in the NFL when he signed a five-year, $99.25 million contract with the Colts on August 8, 2021, which included a $52.5 million guaranteed extension. He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. [31] In Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard recorded 12 tackles and sacked Ryan Tannehill twice in the 3117 loss. We just started hanging out and it kind of went from there. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. Leonard wants more, like 200 tackles, 10 sacks, Defensive Player of the Year, the Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl. ", "She was a baller - softball, basketball, and volleyball. My heart still hurts knowing that my best friend, my roll dog, my partner in crime but most importantly my brother isnt here with me today! In this article, we have covered all the available details about Darius brothers. it inside.". From then on, Leonard was known as The Maniac. Leonards connection to the nickname went deeper than his teammates had anticipated. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time, ESPN also reported. From childhood classmates to teenage sweethearts to Mr. and Mrs. and mom and dad - for Darius and Kayla, so much has changed over the years. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Colts general manager Chris Ballard was looking for a player who could spearhead their transition to a 4-3 defense that emphasized speed, and he became so set on Leonard's potential he passed on Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith to take guard Quenton Nelson with the No. He eventually qualified, but by then he had already decided to attend South Carolina State University, a Football Championship Subdivision school. Leonard was born in 1995, one of nine children raised by a single mother in Lake View, South Carolina, a town so tiny there are no stoplights. The All-Pro linebacker said he was hesitant to correct people about his name as he entered the league in 2018, which was influenced by the advice given to him by Hall of Famer Randy Moss as a rookie to "keep your mouth closed, keep eyes and ears open. One of the last conversations Leonard recalls having with his brother was during that holiday break, after Keivonte had seen Darius argue with Kayla. [2] After the 2016 season, Leonard was named the MEAC defensive player of the year, making SC State the first school to win the award four years in a row. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. Their efforts will officially begin interview with Judy Battista of NFL.com released Wednesday. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. That would have been a moment of me trying to steer him in the right direction. [43], Leonard was named Associated Press First Team All-Pro. Its been 7 years since you left this crazy world and it still seems just like it was yesterday! She couldn't come up and see me," he said. Darius and his brother Anthonys life wasnt always perfect. But before he left for Indianapolis, there was one thing left to do. Darius Leonard on racism, motivation, and the 2020 Colts - New York Post Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Darius Leonard grew up wanting to follow in his brother's footsteps. Lolo Jones Sister- Brother James Jones Jr, Who Is Elisavet Tsitsipas? Cast aside by his dream school, labeled one of the worst picks in the draft. up, but he's become better at handling the emotions after getting Leonard saved his best for last, as he posted career highs in total tackles (113) and sacks (812) as a senior while picking off two more passes and forcing one fumble. Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker's relationship shows the power of Tyrell passed away in 2021 while Dante was killed in a car accident recently. Growing up they watched a lot of Walker, Texas Ranger for him and pro wrestling for me, Leonard says. Then in 2019, Leonard continued to dominate. Thomas and Darren Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. Leonard ultimately earned two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards while he was at South Carolina State. After trading D'Andre Swift to the Eagles on Saturday, Lions GM Brad Holmes went on record as saying that the exchange was a "win-win for all parties involved." But at Christmastime, he brings family and friends together to give back in a big way. No words need to be spoken. Darius Leonard is an American football linebacker for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. It was a matter of getting by and adapting. Darius Leonard biography. Leonard was never a top-rated prospect, particularly not before a growth spurt after his junior year of high school, but he was good enough to garner interest from several schools. [5], On November 20, 2017, it was announced that Leonard had accepted his invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. Anthony During His Collegiate Days (Source: 247 Sports), When he returned home one day, Anthony recalls giving Darius a duffle bag filled with cones, resistance wires, and a speed ladder and telling him, If you want to make it, you will have to go and get it on your own.. But Leonard didnt seem to want to talk about it with Kayla, or anyone. From the time Darius was born, about a year after Keivonte, they slept in the same room. Leonard was everywhere, recording a game-high 19 tackles and blocking a field goal. He posted 70 stops the following year (2015), 13.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 of those for loss, with five sacks and two interceptions to earn a first-team all-conference selection as a redshirt sophomore. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his Instagram and Twitter.
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