A local news crew, there to capture the hometown mans moment, caught what everyone assumed were tears of joy. How many siblings does Darius Leonard have? By the time he qualified, though, he had already decided to play for South Carolina State University, according to ESPN. aggressive positions on the field, there's still no weakness because One night over the break, he was going out with friends and asked Darius if he could borrow some clothes. always be. Colts owner Jim Irsay, another key Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. And I was like, 'It's a day late.' 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. You know, just a lot of big milestones have happened.. Mock drafts: PPR | Non-PPR Keivonte always wanted to make everyone laugh.. 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. [39] "My kindergarten classmates were my graduating classmates.". In his career at South Carolina State, he started all 43 games and led the team in tackles in three separate seasons. It's something we talked about, something that I really wanted.". Charlie is in prison for a 1997 murder case while Cody is charged as an accessory. 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. His life changed in one play and I know how quickly this game [can end]. Hes never considered that it could do both. She didnt want me to have to be fist-bumping my family through the glass [in prison] like my brothers. didn't reach out. (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.) you can't show weakness. Shaquille, for a long time. I get emotional because it goes back to how he was raised and the man hes become.. professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most Leonard responded by leading the NFL in tackles with 163 in 15 games, which was 19 more than the next closest player. SCSU all time leading tackler in school history! Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. "I knew I needed help, and for a long time, I "We went to a party and I asked him to go with me and my friend," she said. Darius closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. It didnt work, he says. Nor is it an outlet to release the emotions he has bottled up. Trouble was easy to find in Lake View, South Carolina, a town with a population of less than 800. They know their love can conquer anything. He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. In middle school, two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. 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.. State Sen. Darius Brown discuss an upcoming "safe surrender" event at a press conference at the Leonard L. Williams Justice Center in Wilmington on Monday May 1, 2023. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his, Darius Leonard Brother | Popularity Graph. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Select-A-Seat | May 6 | Lucas Oil Stadium. 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. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. [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. I had my college friends there. argument at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, in 2012. play college football at Clemson just like his brother. ", "She was a baller - softball, basketball, and volleyball. Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. Its pointless for you to say it, Kayla says, so Ive learned to not say Im sorry. . He was ranked as the sixth best inside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr. and was ranked the seventh best outside linebacker by DraftScout.com. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. She couldn't come up and see me," he said. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. Lake View's Leonard follows in brother's footsteps | Sports News | scnow.com Skip to. [28], In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard made 10 tackles and one sack on Marcus Mariota as the Colts won 1917. 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. "The way I'm going, I'm very happy," Leonard said. 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. He had a little peanut head, she says with a laugh. We just started hanging out and it kind of went from there. inside," Leonard told Battista. He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. Leonard did two stints at a friends house, sleeping in a living room and a barn. "It felt unreal - him being on the phone and watching it on TV. video Mini-Movie: 2022 postseason, from Jags' 27-point comeback to Kelce brothers'. Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. Everybody was either related or knew each other. Where we grew up, when something like that happens, it often leads to fights or revenge, Ford said. That is not all the tragedy that Leonard has had to deal with, though. It physically hurts. He is known by many as Darius. He had 19 tackles and a blocked field goal in a 59-0 loss to Clemson in 2016. On November 11, 2017, Leonard proposed to his girlfriend Kayla, whom he had known since kindergarten, after SC State beat Hampton. He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. Darius is very much alive. "We always competed. in similar situations who may be trying to bottle up their emotions "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. For the Waters brothers, growing up in a small town with less than 800 people was challenging. with other NFL players, including the Atlanta Falcons' Hayden Hurst The 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the "She came up to camp for my birthday. I really wish i was there the night of your incident but God had other plans! We thought we knew what love was until she came," Kayla said. Ill be playing Set it Off all day for ya man! What got him through many of those childhood trials was his relationship with Keivonte. New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen says receiving high draft grades on the team's 2023 NFL Draft class doesn't win games in April. said there are still moments where those thoughts about his brother pop The Colts defense went from 27th in defense-adjusted value over average in 2017 to 10th with Leonard in 2018. He is the embodiment of the rags to riches story weve seen chronicled in movies and music. [50], Leonard swoops in for recovery after blocked FG, Blaine Gabbert gifts Leonard his first career INT, "Former Lake View HS standout, NFL star returns home for charity event and jersey retirement", "NFL Draft & Combine Profile - Darius Leonard", "SCSU's Darius Leonard Is MEAC Defensive Player Of The Year", "Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State", "S.C. STATE FOOTBALL: Leonard repeats as BoxToRow Defensive Player of the Year", "2 local Carolina prospects accept Senior Bowl invites", "Lake View's Darius Leonard dominates on defense at Senior Bowl", "Darius Leonard Turns Heads at Senior Bowl", "South Carolina State OLB Darius Leonard: 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile", "Mel Kiper's Big Board and position rankings: Top 2018 NFL Draft prospects", "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Darius Leonard", "Indianapolis Colts Select Darius Leonard with Pick 36 in NFL Draft", "Predicting Who Will Start at Linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts", "Colts Release First Unofficial Depth Chart Of 2018 Regular Season", "Thumbs up, thumbs down: Margus Hunt, Darius Leonard shine, Jack Doyle, Quincy Wilson don't", "Doyel: A star is born in Colts linebacker Darius Leonard", "Mahomes, Fitzpatrick among NFL Players of Week", "Darius Leonard Named NFL's Defensive Rookie Of The Month", "Colts' Darius Leonard named NFL's DROTM", "Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - November 18th, 2018", "Josh Allen, Darius Leonard among Players of the Week", "Titans' Derrick Henry among NFL Players of the Month", "NFL Player stats: Darius Leonard (career)", "NFL Player stats: Darius Leonard (2018)", "Brissett spoils Titans' opener, rallying Colts to 19-17 win", "Colts take AFC South lead with 30-23 victory over Texans", "Dolphins cash in on Colts turnovers, earn 2nd straight win", "Blocked field goal helps Titans turn table with win at Indy", "Winston throws for 456 yards, 4 TDs as Bucs rally over Colts", "Colts' Darius Leonard 'Shocked' By Pro Bowl Honor", "Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions November 1st, 2020", "Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts - November 8th, 2020", "Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - November 29th, 2020", "Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts - December 20th, 2020", "Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts - January 3rd, 2021", "Titans RB Derrick Henry, Vikings QB Kirk Cousins among Players of the Week", "Colts, All-Pro LB Darius Leonard agree to terms on five-year, $99.25M extension", "Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce lead Players of the Week", "Colts' Darius Leonard, Luke Rhodes, Jonathan Taylor Named 2021 First-Team AP All-Pros", "Seven Colts Players Named To 2022 Pro Bowl", "A Colt by any other name: Leonard drops Darius", "Colts Activate WR Ashton Dulin From Injured Reserve, Place LB Shaquille Leonard On Injured Reserve, Elevate TE Nikola Kalinic And RB Jordan Wilkins To Active Roster From Practice Squad", "Star Player Proposes To Girlfriend After SC State Win", "Colts LB Darius Leonard, NFL stars to battle on 'Celebrity Family Feud', https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shaquille_Leonard&oldid=1150737032, 4x AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 2, 2018; Week 17, 2018; Week 17, 2020; Week 15, 2021), AFC Defensive Player of the Month (December 2018), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month (September 2018), This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 21:59. Keivante and Darius were born a year apart and shared a bedroom growing up. In November, the Colts teamed up with Wagner Reese to kick off a monthlong celebration of events to salute and honor America's heroes. 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. Damn I miss you man, A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Dec 15, 2019 at 5:35am PST, Robert Mathis Went From Underrated Fifth-Round Pick to $70 Million Sack Artist. My chest gets tight. [49], On July 26, 2022, at the Colts' training camp, Leonard told reporters how he now requested to be called by his middle name, Shaquille, rather than his given first name, Darius. Finally, Leonard says, big schools had come calling even his dream school, Clemson, was offering a spot but he decided to stay at SCSU. As Leonards junior season in college ended, Lake Views playoff run was just beginning. I let her plan everything out. "We took a picture together and we were right beside each other. That's when it really hit me that I need help. Veteran RB Latavius Murray signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced Monday. But I didnt have to because he had a good head on his shoulders and knew that wasnt the way to go.. I love you lil ugly dude! 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. Domonique Foxworth is a senior writer at Andscape. Tears. Darius's other brother Keivonte died in 2012 due to injuries sustained in a bar fight. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters.
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