"I wanted to let her have as big a wedding as she wanted. Darius Leonard biography. "My kindergarten classmates were my graduating classmates.". [17] On September 16, 2018, Leonard collected a season-high 19 combined tackles (15 solo) and made his first career sack on Redskins' quarterback Alex Smith during a 219 win at the Washington Redskins. After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. But, burning that fuel affects Leonard in ways that go somewhat unnoticed. 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. When high school was over, Darius went to South Carolina State to play football. He is the embodiment of the rags to riches story weve seen chronicled in movies and music. The family wasnt well off. Darius is married to his long-time lover, Kayla Sanderson. at your next game day gathering! [37] She was very good at all three sports," he said. Classmates would return wearing new clothes and bragging about their gifts. He had been saving his scholarship refund checks and used a friends employee discount to buy a ring from Kay Jewelers. Leonards life, however, hasnt always been great. He is 23 years of age as of 2018 Darius Leonard Family Leonard was born in Nichols, South Carolina, as one of the nine children to a single mother. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Kayla means the most. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's picture-perfect 'Peanut Punch' forces fumble and turnover. figure in the launch of the Kicking the Stigma campaign, said they're Its still hard on him, his mother says. When looking at the path he has had to take to get there he is certainly an inspiration. 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. Leonard has been informally nicknamed "Maniac" due to his energetic and productive on-field play. He attended Clemson University for his college studies and started his playing career there. Headed into this season, the Colts were a trendy Super Bowl pick. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Your team will love these Sloppy Joes 5 Ways! So far, he's doing a good job of it. their basement and the commercial comes on, and maybe they think, The three times Pro Bowl winner maintains a whopping net worth of about $60- $65 million in2023. 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. Nor is it an outlet to release the emotions he has bottled up. San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In Week 12 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard recorded a team high 14 tackles and sacked Ryan Tannehill once during the 4526 loss. I lost so much She was the flower girl in her mom and dad's real wedding - the one Kayla dreamed about growing up. He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. I also knew that was the route I didnt want to go. inside," Leonard told Battista. He said Cody is in prison because he was an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time.. Darius played three varsity sports in high school and as a senior led Lake View to the lower state championship. His life changed in one play and I know how quickly this game [can end]. He became a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and did play at Death Valley as an opponent. Darius Leonard is an American football linebacker for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. But before he left for Indianapolis, there was one thing left to do. Before all of his football success, though, Leonard had to overcome a lot. I wanted to see my mom happy all the time, not having to stress out worrying about me., Leonard doesnt go into a lot of details about why his brothers -- Charlie and Cody Waters -- are incarcerated. There is a empty spot in my life where you needed to be! He also said that Cody is in prison for being an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time, ESPN also reported. There's no [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Popularity of Darius Leonards Brother Over The Past 12 Months (Source: Google). They started dating during their junior year. According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. argument at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, in 2012. play college football at Clemson just like his brother. 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. I couldn't sleep. I didnt want him to be in that area because I knew what was going on there. "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. That called changed my life in so many ways! [29] After the game, Leonard reportedly felt concussion like symptoms and was forced to miss the next three games. Q: You lost one brothe Leonard is one of the nine children of his mother. I wanted it to be official that she was my wife. Darius Leonard steps out of his in-laws house on a five-acre farm. Leonard faced another obstacle in high school. There was the trailer park on the gravel road, where he met his father for the first time at the age of 13. For the time being, Leonard remains shelved for the start of training camp, but he said the recovery has been going well. Anthony was like a role model for his younger brother, Darius. When the draft came, they rented a house in Myrtle Beach and filled it with family. Find your dream seats at our Select-A-Seat event taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium on May 6! The Indianapolis Colts made sure he gets paid like it. [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. 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.". Its pointless for you to say it, Kayla says, so Ive learned to not say Im sorry. . Sadly, one of his brothers has passed away. professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most I wanted to put them on notice.. Both brothers are in prison, but that doesnt stop Leonard from talking to them regularly. "It just shows that you're loved," he said. The Colts defense went from 27th in defense-adjusted value over average in 2017 to 10th with Leonard in 2018. On June 4, 2021, Leonard welcomed daughter Laila. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. Two others are in prison. On Sunday, August 8th, 2021 the Indianapolis Colts have announced that they have agreed upon terms to sign their young and explosive superstar inside linebacker, Darius Leonard, to a 5 - year contract extension worth up to approximately $98.5 million.This new deal makes Leonard the all - time highest paid inside linebacker in the long and celebrated history of the National . He avoided those problems because he always wanted to be different in every aspect, said Chris Ford, one of Leonards closest childhood friends. The Colts beat the Houston Texans 21-7 in the wild-card round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. This really happened?'". Leonard intercepted a pass by Titans backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, that was intended for wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, and returned it for a ten-yard gain during the third quarter. moving past the stigma related to mental health conditions during an Her heart is big. Her beautiful smile. "That's better than keeping After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. 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. Darius Leonard and company will likely be a borderline playoff team again next season. When I was dirt broke, she was still right beside me. He told Battista They had to overcome many tragedies and losses before becoming a star. [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. Leonard and Keivonte were born only a year apart. Two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. [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. [Clemson coach] Dabo Swinney told him after the game that they missed out on not getting him, Ford recalled. 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.. interview with Judy Battista of NFL.com released Wednesday. Despite their scarcity, the meals were good. And her eyes - they kept me coming back.". However, he wants to be called by his middle name, Shaquille. Theres so many questions I have for you that I know Ill never get answers to! [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. [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. You know, just a lot of big milestones have happened.. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he wants to be known by his middle name, Shaquille. I currently write articles related to players for Hansikar Technologies. I love you lil ugly dude! In 10 games in 2017, Leonard had 113 total tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, according to South Carolina States team site. The football field is not an escape from the trauma of his childhood. And I was like, 'It's a day late.' "We hung out that night. A good partner brings out the best in you. His gleaming black Benz SUV sits in the driveway, but we are just a few miles from the trailer park where he lived for a couple of years as a kid, one of the 15 or 20 places he called home as a child. "And I was like, 'Ok.' He returned in Week 4, and suffered a concussion and broken nose in the game, missing the next three games. He recently took part in a roundtable You've had classic Sloppy Joes, but what about Hawaiian style or Southwest? It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He had an impressive game against ACC powerhouse Clemson, totaling 19 tackles. December 15th will always be the worst day of my life knowing that your life was taken away! While he was in high school, Leonard wanted to play college football at Clemson. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. It was definitely great seeing her come around the corner in that beautiful dress.". Darius could have derailed his future by trying to get revenge. Winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, his brother not being there. It physically hurts. extremely close took a long-term toll on his mental health. They left the hospital early the next morning, believing Keivonte was going to survive. "The awareness is so critical," Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. [9][10], The Indianapolis Colts selected Leonard in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. I wasn't the full energetic guy I would The 25-year-old South Carolina native When Mia arrived in March, she changed everything. The loss of his brother still weighs on Leonard. A week after Leonard accepted his first Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award in December 2016, he was back in Lake View, up in the booth for us on the headsets during the state championship game. On Saturday, July 30, NFL Network will present Training Camp: Back Together Saturday. Charlie is reportedly in prison for a "murder case" that happened in 1997, Leonard said, according to ESPN. [26] Leonard recorded the most tackles among all players as a rookie in 2018. He also became the first NFL player since 1982 to have 10-plus sacks and five-plus interceptions in his first 25 games. Darius wanted to follow his brothers path. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? The Colts teamed up with Methodist Sports Medicine to help men from the Wheeler Mission kick off the holiday season and start the New Year on the right foot. The real meaning of Christmas is bringing people together in the spirit of love, hope, and joy. importance of reaching out for help," per Battista. Meals were scarce, but enjoyable. Growing up they watched a lot of Walker, Texas Ranger for him and pro wrestling for me, Leonard says. Ranks: PPR | non-PPR | Cheat Sheets Thats where everybody hung out as far as where trouble was at, Waters said. A post shared by Darius Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:01am PST. way I'm 19, 20 years old feeling this way, no way I should be getting He has been called by his middle name, Shaquille, for a long time. Where we grew up, when something like that happens, it often leads to fights or revenge, Ford said. He was also the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. 6 pick. In his career at South Carolina State, he started all 43 games and led the team in tackles in three separate seasons. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. Colts owner Jim Irsay, another key He had eyes for only one: Clemson, where older brother Anthony Waters had gone before being drafted by the Chargers. 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. The team released him on February 26, 2009. (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.) Dariuss full fame is Darius Shaquille Leonard. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday at Colts training camp, Leonard said. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he was asked to leave a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant in South Carolina after he became the target of a lie because of the color of his skin . A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. It's something Colts mascot, Blue, does all year long. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. Leonard and Kayla graduated the next semester. After the 2010 season, he became a free agent. Leonard attended and played high school football at Lake View High School in Lake View, South Carolina. "I talked trash to her. "Get ready to rock 'n' roll when time comes.". Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he's taking on a lead role in the team's Kicking the Stigma mental health initiative, which will formally launch in May, after going through his. I went by Shaquille my whole life and I understand that itll be a hard change to be called Shaquille after being called Darius for 4 years. @kdubb_15 man I miss you and love you more than I've ever expressed while you were here! He was among the Saints early-September final cuts. But through it all - their love has only grown. In 2011, an interracial relationship was still taboo in their tiny Southern town. In his rookie season, Leonard showed enormous potential. On the eve of his 27th birthday, Shaquille Leonard has decided to make a distinct change entering his fifth NFL season. [6] On January 27, 2018, Leonard played in the 2018 Senior Bowl and recorded a game-high 14 combined tackles (five solo) as part of Bill O'Brien's North team that defeated the South 4516. A local news crew, there to capture the hometown mans moment, caught what everyone assumed were tears of joy. He was with us every day at practice, King says. Clemsons players were a class above all of the Bulldogs except for one. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his, Darius Leonard Brother | Popularity Graph. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. Two others are in prison. ", "She's stuck beside me through thick and thin. [24] Leonard was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for December. From clothes and shoes and presents to their presence - being able to give back is something the Colts take to heart. And his journey became their journey. [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. 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). After the game, he says, My teammates said I played like a straight maniac. It stuck. He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
