Most figured Darius Leonard was far too skinny to do on Sundays what he was doing on Saturdays. INDIANAPOLIS -- It started out as a pause on the phone. I have a empty spot if my heart that nobody can fill up but you! [28], In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard made 10 tackles and one sack on Marcus Mariota as the Colts won 1917. Wagner signed a 3 year for 54 million dollar deal with 40 million in . [35], In Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, Leonard recorded a team high nine tackles and recorded a strip sack on quarterback Matthew Stafford which was recovered by the Colts during the 4121 win. For a time after his brothers death, Leonard thought that celebratory draft moment would not come. Mind of a Maniac, by one of Leonards favorite rappers, Lil Boosie, was already part of his pregame playlist, and it remains today. As Leonard goes forward with the name he grew up with, expect the same game-changing play he's consistently produced for five seasons. Darius wanted toplay college football at Clemson just like his brother. A lot of people have a stigma, especially as men, that "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. They met in Ms. Susans kindergarten class, playing on the kitchen set. Check it out! When my brother died, we werent even public and she said, I dont care, Im going to be the best armor for you the whole way. When I lost the scholarship at Clemson, she was there, Leonard says. When I lost my brother, when I didn't have anything - she was always there," said Darius. INDIANAPOLIS Darius Leonard always believed he was the best linebacker in football. Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) October 15, 2019. .
Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) / Twitter Waller, with NBC's Carson Daly serving [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. He missed his rookie season in 2007 and played seven games for the Chargers in 2008. For his performance, Leonard was once again awarded with AFC Defensive Player of the Week. The June sun reflects off iridescent dragonflies that zip in the South Carolina morning air. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is entering his third NFL season as a star on the rise. "We would hang out all the time.". ", "She's stuck beside me through thick and thin. One of the last conversations Leonard recalls having with his brother was during that holiday break, after Keivonte had seen Darius argue with Kayla. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Darius has already appeared in four seasons for the Colts and is one of the team's most trusted linebackers in the ongoing 2022 season. So much joy - I was definitely happy. Select-A-Seat | May 6 | Lucas Oil Stadium. 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. Stefanos Tsitsipas Sister- Brother Petros Cameron Norrie Hair Transformation: Style And Color Before And Who Are Alvaro, Sergio And Jaime Alcaraz? He speaks the truth on everything, Leonard says. figure in the launch of the Kicking the Stigma campaign, said they're [12] Leonard was the sixth linebacker taken in the draft. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. Hi, I'm Prajita Karki. weight. Darius Leonard grew up in a small town, Lake View, in Dillon County, South Carolina, United States. Kayla rode with Darius to see Keivonte. He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. 'I'll give it one last whirl.'". Oh man, Im losing it, said Lynette Waters, the mother of Indianapolis Colts All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard.
How Darius Leonard Spent His First $1M in the NFL - GQ I never saw him like that. 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. She was very good at all three sports," he said. Another life-changing call came when sitting in a Waffle House on a night in December 2012. Hes great in space, a sure tackler, and he came into the league with a knack for blitzing.. You have entered an incorrect email address! This article was last updated by Krisha Shrestha on April 26, 2023. The two-time All-Pro agreed Sunday to a five-year. Meanwhile, Darius' football career was taking off. A good partner brings out the best in you. Kayla is usually there to hug him. He attended Clemson University for his college studies and started his playing career there. As a child Leonard looked up to and would compete with his brother Anthony Waters with hopes to one day follow in his footsteps to play football at Clemson. 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. After we greeted one another, he tucked his jewelry into his shirt.
Wonderful Story Between Darius Leonard and His Wife Kayla - PlayersGF.com Leonard is one of the nine children of his mother. Jeffrey Brown/Icon . importance of reaching out for help," per Battista. A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). "We always competed. In 13 games, Leonard racked up 121 total tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and five interceptions. after going through his own struggles following the death of his Darius Leonard grew up wanting to follow in his brother's footsteps. [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. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. He stops just below Keivontes eyes. 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. Keivonte always wanted to make everyone laugh.. Classmates would return wearing new clothes and bragging about their gifts.
Darius Leonard put his team on blast after the loss - Sportscasting According to his obituary, this Louisiana native had a Master's degree in Sociology from Southern University and worked as a teacher and coach to help others. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" 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. Its still hard on him, his mother says. According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as an assistant coach at the Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland, from September 2012 to January 2014. I just remember him leaning on the car, just crying, Kayla says. [19] The following week, Leonard recorded 13 combined tackles (nine solo) and made two sacks on Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz in the Colts' 2016 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN.
Shaquille Leonard Stats, News, Bio | ESPN [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. His life changed in one play and I know how quickly this game [can end]. Kayla played softball for Claflin University. Daryl King, their high school coach, would frequently phone Waters. We had a great time.". When Mia arrived in March, she changed everything. In the game, Leonard recorded a team high ten tackles and an interception off Deshaun Watson in the 3023 win. Anthony was like a role model for his younger brother, Darius. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time, ESPN also reported. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he got a chance to show Clemson, the national championship runner-up, what it was missing. During the time of writing, he maintains a career stat of 61 games played, 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and 549 total tackles.
I was digging a hole, going further and further in the hole, until I actually had to talk to a therapist, she says. Colts owner Jim Irsay, another key Leonard wants more, like 200 tackles, 10 sacks, Defensive Player of the Year, the Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl. "Just the way he looks at her - it's crazy. Darius Leonard is one of the best players in the entire NFL. Darius closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. Dallas Cowboys running back Deuce Vaughn says it was "a tearjerker" after he received the call from his father's team in the 2023 NFL Draft. They say time usually heals but I havent done much healing! He and Kayla imagine Keivonte watching Darius play on Sundays and playing with their daughter at home. Darius Leonard avoided his brothers' mistakes on path to All-Pro year Darius Leonard became a surprise star as a rookie, and he has even bigger goals for his second season. Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said. It was definitely great seeing her come around the corner in that beautiful dress.". 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. Meals were scarce, but enjoyable. The big house in the middle of nowhere. Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. 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." It was crazy," she said. During his freshman year, Keivonte came home for the holidays and spent Thanksgiving with his family. I believed in him.". [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. In Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard recorded a team high 14 tackles and sacked Ryan Tannehill once during the 4526 loss. The Colts still managed to start 5-2 but then lost five of six. He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. [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. [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. I forget everything I was going to say. She couldn't come up and see me," he said. Leonard with his wife Kayla Leonard, and their daughter, Mia. 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. Leonard is one of nine children to a single mother. Darius is married to his long-time lover, Kayla Sanderson. He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. He fiercely raises the hand sign of his frat, Omega Psi Phi while he does a jubilant, wide-legged jig. Darius Leonard biography. Leonards mother, Lynette, turned to counseling. In Week 15 against the Houston Texans, Leonard led the team with 15 tackles and forced a fumble on wide receiver Keke Coutee that was recovered by the Colts during the 2720 win. two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. SC State Grad C/O17! All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard rejoined his team last week, marking his long-awaited return to practice after being stuck in concussion protocol for three weeks. [Clemson coach] Dabo Swinney told him after the game that they missed out on not getting him, Ford recalled. Leonard discussed the importance of His five interceptions led all linebackers and tied for fourth in the entire NFL. [29] After the game, Leonard reportedly felt concussion like symptoms and was forced to miss the next three games. ET, more than 50 analysts, reporters and team correspondents will provide 13 hours of live coverage from training camps across the NFL -- plus, check out NFL Films-produced wired sound of players and coaches in action. We were only 1 year apart so you can guess how close we were! The Colts had some wondering what they were thinking when they selected Leonard out of the tiny FCS school in the second round of the 2018 draft. the fact their relationship ended on a low note after years of being way I'm 19, 20 years old feeling this way, no way I should be getting Colts star Darius Leonards first two years in the league have been among the best debuts ever by a linebacker. 2 brothers in prison, another killed. Leonard plays aggressively, but he does it with a bounce best exemplified by his celebration after every sack (and this year, there have been a lot of them). Waters was thinking about that moment last February, when she went into full-sprint mode, the way her son does when hes pursuing a ball carrier. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now his goal has become to help people After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. By the time he did, Clemson, which had shown interest, he says, but wouldnt commit until he got his grades up, was out of scholarships. Thats where everybody hung out as far as where trouble was at, Waters said. I would have anxiety attacks. At the end of the first quarter, he had tips for Coach King. . But Leonard didnt seem to want to talk about it with Kayla, or anyone. I had a big chip on my shoulder, he says.
Chipotle suspended a manager after Darius Leonard said he was - CNN According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he wants to be known by his middle name, Shaquille. it inside.". The world's population was 5,751,474,416 and there were an estimated year babies born throughout the world in . "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. Ill be playing Set it Off all day for ya man! help. SCSU all time leading tackler in school history! The team released him on, Anthony Inspired Darius To Compete In NFL. You never know what you have until its gone, Keivonte warned, reminding Darius to cherish that relationship. On Sunday, the Colts honored Coach Richard Nelloms and Jayden on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. The AFC South should still be relatively weak for another year (assuming the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence doesn't take too big a leap), so the Colts could easily find themselves in the exact same position again this time next year A brothers death would be stressful for any young relationship particularly one with as much pressure as Leonards and Kaylas. Leonard and Anthony chose a different path than his brothers. up, but he's become better at handling the emotions after getting Growing up in Lake View, I heard the N-word used regularly, Kayla says. 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. [13], On July 23, 2018, Leonard signed a four-year, $7.24 million contract that included $4.16 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $3.35 million. his death during a fight at a club. work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. "I wanted to let her have as big a wedding as she wanted. However, Clemson was waiting for Leonard to qualify academically before offering him a scholarship. That called changed my life in so many ways! He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Domonique Foxworth is a senior writer at Andscape. I love you lil ugly dude! While he was in high school, Leonard wanted to play college football at Clemson. [26] Leonard recorded the most tackles among all players as a rookie in 2018. Now Darius Leonard is the best rookie in football. Hes never considered that it could do both. 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. Its not a huge deal and it wouldnt be no hard feelings if you called me Darius. Sign up now: It's free to play! "I definitely loved that - an athlete who was just as good in their sport as I was in mine.". No words need to be spoken. Thomas and Darren We had our t-shirts from kindergarten and we signed our names right beside each other.". She said, "Yes." After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. His 73 solo tackles in 2017 put him in the Top 10 in the nation, and 412 of his sacks came in his final two games. The highest annual salary for an off ball linebacker in the NFL is currently Bobby Wagner's contract at 18 million per year. I dont take nothing for granted.. He made his return in Week 7 against the Houston Texans. 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.". ", "We knew we wanted to get married and being so far away from home, we wanted to go ahead and do it," she said. "We went to a party and I asked him to go with me and my friend," she said.
Colts' Darius Leonard feared for NFL career after missing substantial The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically.
He died the next day. Thats the kind of guy is, King says. Leonard pushes away sympathy from his family. [21] Leonard was inactive for the Colts Week 5 loss at the New England Patriots due to an ankle injury he sustained the previous week.