Leonards life, however, hasnt always been great. He wasnt good enough to win a championship, and soon found out he wasnt good enough for Clemson. Colts' Darius Leonard feared for NFL career after missing substantial Kiper's 2023 NFL draft grades: Why two teams clearly had the best weekend, Indianapolis Colts 2023 NFL draft picks, depth chart, analysis, Colts say QB Richardson will improve by playing, Big takeaways from the NFL draft: A historic QB class, the rebuilt AFC South and new GMs thriving, Kiper's winners, reaches and values from Day 2: Every pick he liked and didn't like, Previously worked at Indianapolis Star, covering the Indiana Pacers for nine seasons, Also covered Vikings for St. Paul Pioneer Press. He recently took part in a roundtable Did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? 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. "And taking care of us - he always makes sure that we're straight and we have everything we need. "I didn't think we would go up there and do a ceremony. Anthony Waters Coaching At The Lake View High School (Source: Twitter). All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. So he got off to an early start. In fact, after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the draft, Bleacher Report even listed him as one of the worst picks of that year. [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. Year explained he had a minor disagreement with his brother before Darius wanted to follow his brothers path. A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). Waters was a third-round pick by the Chargers in 2007, but was out of the league by 2010. Leonard and Kayla hadnt fully come out as a couple before Keivonte died. Tattooed on his forearm is the face of his companion star, Keivonte. Lake View won its first state title since 2007. 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. She never left my side through any moment; she made sure that I had absolutely anything that I needed.. "The awareness is so critical," Leonard faced another obstacle in high school. He was preparing for his games at South Carolina State, and there he is also spending an hour or two a day watching film for us, King says. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In his rookie season, Leonard showed enormous potential. Darius Leonard put his team on blast after the loss - Sportscasting Darius Leonard on racism, motivation, and the 2020 Colts - New York Post Darius' older brothers Charlie and Cody Waters are incarcerated. Its been 7 years since you left this crazy world and it still seems just like it was yesterday! Veteran RB Latavius Murray signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced Monday. Avoiding family trauma put Colts' Darius Leonard on All-Pro path - ESPN On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. Who Is Angelia Jefferson? For real. The big house in the middle of nowhere. Leonard called several schools, but the answer was the same. I let her plan everything out. A few months later, Kayla had a surprise for Darius - she was expecting. On Saturday, July 30, NFL Network will present Training Camp: Back Together Saturday. "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. Sadly, one of his brothers has passed away. But, burning that fuel affects Leonard in ways that go somewhat unnoticed. 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 [38] "I wanted to let her have as big a wedding as she wanted. ", Added Leonard: "I was only called Darius when I was in school or when I was in trouble.". His fathers name is unknown. It's fun to have someone who loves what you love.". didn't reach out. If you dont have a state title in Lake View, you werent good enough.. But the highlight of his SCSU career came after his final home game, a 33-15 win over Hampton University. [40] "It just shows that you're loved," he said. He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Instead, he is a college graduate and an NFL All-Pro. You've had classic Sloppy Joes, but what about Hawaiian style or Southwest? Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is entering his third NFL season as a star on the rise. They cried together. I wanted her to come up with me. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season. He was with us every day at practice, King says. Kayla, who was attending nearby Claflin University on a softball scholarship, remained encouraging, but Leonard had decided that he was going to be a gym teacher and high school football coach. Ranks: PPR | non-PPR | Cheat Sheets "We've got to reach that person who is sitting in Leonard with his wife Kayla Leonard, and their daughter, Mia. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his Instagram and Twitter. [3] Leonard finished the season with 124 tackles, 1412 tackles for loss, 312 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and four forced fumbles. "I knew I needed help, and for a long time, I "The way I'm going, I'm very happy," Leonard said. better for me. But he admits that smile is sometimes forced. He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. In middle school, two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. But Colts linebacker Darius Leonard and his wife, Kayla, have known each other for as far back as they can remember. He and his fiancee had a daughter in 2019. Tyrell passed away in 2021 while Dante was killed in a car accident recently. I just wanted to hug him, and say, Im sorry. . alive," Leonard said. He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius He has been working as a head football coach at Gaston County School District since July 2014. 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. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. Darius's other brother Keivonte died in 2012 due to injuries sustained in a bar fight. 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. Soon, he realized that what he loved was her. 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. Anthonys mother had to work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. He became the first player to rack up at least 125 tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles in a season since Bryan Cox in 1992, according to Colts.com. Leonard responded by leading the NFL in tackles with 163 in 15 games, which was 19 more than the next closest player. I dont take nothing for granted.. [1], Leonard led SCSU in tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2014, compiling 86, 14 for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. ", "She was a baller - softball, basketball, and volleyball. Tarik Cohen injured during workout by Steven J. Gaither May 17, 2022 [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. At Leonards 2018 draft party, as the family gathered in Myrtle Beach, Colts general manager Chris Ballard called Leonard early in the second round and asked, Do you want to be a Colt? Minutes later, the announcement was made on TV, and the house erupted around Leonard, whose bright smile masked what was rumbling beneath. . Leonard was everywhere, recording a game-high 19 tackles and blocking a field goal. It was crazy," she said. We were only 1 year apart so you can guess how close we were! Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. Its pointless for you to say it, Kayla says, so Ive learned to not say Im sorry. . I never saw him like that. The team released him on, Anthony Inspired Darius To Compete In NFL. But I didnt have to because he had a good head on his shoulders and knew that wasnt the way to go.. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's picture-perfect 'Peanut Punch' forces fumble and turnover. Anthony Waters is a former American football linebacker. [37] Beth was working for VH1 at the time and maybe her time in . Mind of a Maniac, by one of Leonards favorite rappers, Lil Boosie, was already part of his pregame playlist, and it remains today. 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.". Wherever you are, this is how you football!Learn moreabout NFL+. He avoided those problems because he always wanted to be different in every aspect, said Chris Ford, one of Leonards closest childhood friends. Leonard was eating with his future wife, Kayla, and Ford. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. "That's better than keeping Stefanos Tsitsipas Sister- Brother Petros Cameron Norrie Hair Transformation: Style And Color Before And Who Are Alvaro, Sergio And Jaime Alcaraz? The 25-year-old South Carolina native He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Although he wanted to give his younger brother Darius the same opportunity, he wasnt going to. But this was also another reminder of the person who wasnt there. 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. Even now, on the bad days, the routine is always the same. He completed the bench press, 40-yard dash, 20-yard dash, and 10-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Depth charts: Offense | Defense Darius Leonard - The Maniac - Introducing our Gourmet Dinner Speaker professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most Darius Leonard is Never Far From Home - South Magazine [31] In Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard recorded 12 tackles and sacked Ryan Tannehill twice in the 3117 loss. Wonderful Story Between Darius Leonard and His Wife Kayla - PlayersGF.com He's not happy to rest on that success. Thomas and Darren Charlie is reportedly in prison for a "murder case" that happened in 1997, Leonard said, according to ESPN. The loss of his brother still weighs on Leonard. No way I should be seeing a heart specialist. He stops just below Keivontes eyes. She talked trash to me. Eventually, he got the courage to ask her out. It didnt work, he says. He ultimately earned Pro Bowl honors that season too. [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. Trouble was easy to find in Lake View, South Carolina, a town with a population of less than 800. You know, just a lot of big milestones have happened.. [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. Before Keivontes death, she had never seen Leonard show any real emotion. "Everybody just grew up together," Kayla said. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. 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. 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. As Leonard goes forward with the name he grew up with, expect the same game-changing play he's consistently produced for five seasons. A second round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, all of Darius' dreams were coming true. their basement and the commercial comes on, and maybe they think, is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. Kayla spotted him drifting from the celebration, so she followed him to the back of the room. Darius could have derailed his future by trying to get revenge. I lost so much Indianapolis locks up Darius Leonard with richest LB contract His brother Anthony Waters did and even led the Tigers in tackles in 2005 with 109, according to Clemsons team site. Lolo Jones Sister- Brother James Who Is Elisavet Tsitsipas? "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. When I lost my brother, when I didn't have anything - she was always there," said Darius. Quite the opposite. 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. [7] Leonard's performance at the Senior Bowl immensely helped his draft stock. Irsay said. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. inside," Leonard told Battista. Indianapolis Colts Sign Darius Leonard to 5 Year $98.5 Million Contract Carlos Alcaraz Brothers And Family, Jalen Hurts: Early Life, Girlfriend & Controversy, All About Nelson Agholor Girlfriend: Viviana Volpicelli. "Claflin and South Carolina State have a fence that separates them," she said. I talked some good mack daddy. But she rejected him: Apparently, his mack was not strong enough to overcome the size and shape of his head. you're having mental health issues.". According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. "That was the hardest part because I was gone and she was working Monday through Friday. Darius Leonard Lived a Life Full of Tragedy Before - Sportscasting They had to overcome many tragedies and losses before becoming a star. Theres always something that happens in his life where he thinks about his brother, and that triggers different emotions, she says. I had a big chip on my shoulder, he says. before training; after his training and practice, he grew to 62 (189 cm) and 180 lbs. 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. The Indianapolis Colts made sure he gets paid like it. Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. 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. He had a little peanut head, she says with a laugh. importance of reaching out for help," per Battista. Two others are in prison. Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said. @dsleon45. But when his girlfriend, Emma, came into his life - she brought Jake with her. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. at your next game day gathering! I'm letting the world know, as a Then I opened the box and I went crazy. 6 pick. He and Kayla imagine Keivonte watching Darius play on Sundays and playing with their daughter at home. Leonard has been informally nicknamed "Maniac" due to his energetic and productive on-field play. How Darius Leonard Spent His First $1M in the NFL - GQ The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" They say time usually heals but I havent done much healing! Writing has always been like therapy to me. (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.) Darius has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. 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. After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. Dariuss full fame is Darius Shaquille Leonard. Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. 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. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he got a chance to show Clemson, the national championship runner-up, what it was missing. Hes never considered that it could do both. 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. 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. Despite missing three games due to injury, Leonard had a team-leading 121 tackles including 71 solos, six tackles for loss, five sacks, six passes defended, five interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Leonard was an FCS first-team All-American in 2017 at South Carolina State and a two-time. Thats the kind of guy is, King says. So, he didn't waste any time. [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. His NFL aspirations were alive and well. "Just seeing him off the field - the hard work he puts in and what he puts into this game and this life," Kayla said. The furry face of the franchise since 2006 - this summer, Colts mascot, Blue, will be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. "It changed our whole life, our relationship. I love you bro and I miss you more than anyone will ever know! INDIANAPOLIS Darius Leonard always believed he was the best linebacker in football. We did everything together walked the streets, played ball and threw hands whenever was needed! That is not all the tragedy that Leonard has had to deal with, though. Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. We just started hanging out and it kind of went from there. Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker's relationship shows the power of