Leonard has two brothers in prison for murder, while one other brotherhis best friend, the one who slept next to him for 17 yearsdied after getting clubbed in the back of the head at a. Katy Kellner Bio: Early Life, Husband, Baby Who Is Angelia Jefferson? It's something Colts mascot, Blue, does all year long. But only the details of 4 of them are available. His life changed in one play and I know how quickly this game [can end]. Darius wanted toplay college football at Clemson just like his brother. But, burning that fuel affects Leonard in ways that go somewhat unnoticed. After we greeted one another, he tucked his jewelry into his shirt. He played collegiate football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. When the draft came, they rented a house in Myrtle Beach and filled it with family. Leonard makes a video with students during a Giveback Event at his former school, Lake View Elementary, where he handed out Lands End backpacks and winter coats. On January 5, 2019, Leonard started in his first career playoff game and recorded 13 combined tackles (five solo) and broke up a pass attempt during a 217 victory at the Houston Texans in the AFC Wildcard Game. 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. Darius is married to his long-time lover, Kayla Sanderson. God let my child live his dream, whether or not he buys me nothing. Two others are in prison. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. Along with friends and family, many of Darius' teammates and former teammates were in attendance. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard will no longer be called Darius moving forward. Darius played three varsity sports in high school and as a senior led Lake View to the lower state championship. [14], Leonard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. He has been called by his middle name, Shaquille, for a long time. It meant a lot to me because you have some kids who make it and then forget about their parents and family, Waters said. He attended Clemson University for his college studies and started his playing career there. importance of reaching out for help," per Battista. A local news crew, there to capture the hometown mans moment, caught what everyone assumed were tears of joy. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Oh man, Im losing it, said Lynette Waters, the mother of Indianapolis Colts All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. Unfortunately, Denard passed away on January 8, 2013, at the age of 29. Waters later played professionally. From then on, Leonard was known as The Maniac. Leonards connection to the nickname went deeper than his teammates had anticipated. [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. at your next game day gathering! He played college football at South Carolina State and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts. But he admits that smile is sometimes forced. Leonard wants more, like 200 tackles, 10 sacks, Defensive Player of the Year, the Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl. In Week 17, Leonard broke the Colts franchise record for most tackles in a single season with 163, in a 3317 win vs the Tennessee Titans. But his path to NFL greatness has been far from easy. aggressive positions on the field, there's still no weakness because weight. I would have anxiety attacks. 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. [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. 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. He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. I dont take nothing for granted.. "Just the way he looks at her - it's crazy. It was like, 'Wow. Most figured Darius Leonard was far too skinny to do on Sundays what he was doing on Saturdays. The June sun reflects off iridescent dragonflies that zip in the South Carolina morning air. Ryan Kelly never saw himself as a small dog guy. Leonard said. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. Ain't not like putting a smile on your mother face! I'm letting the world know, as a A lot of people have a stigma, especially as men, that There is a empty spot in my life where you needed to be! Stefanos Tsitsipas Sister- Brother Petros Cameron Norrie Hair Transformation: Style And Color Before And Who Are Alvaro, Sergio And Jaime Alcaraz? We were only 1 year apart so you can guess how close we were! Your team will love these Sloppy Joes 5 Ways! 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. In a mid-November performance against the Miami Dolphins, he recorded 11 solo tackles, a sack and an interception, becoming one of only two players in NFL history to record 10 sacks and four interceptions in his first two seasons (the other is Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher). Ranks: PPR | non-PPR | Cheat Sheets On April 15, 2009, Waters committed to the New Orleans Saints. He has been working as a head football coach at Gaston County School District since July 2014. [26] Leonard recorded the most tackles among all players as a rookie in 2018. Darius Rucker wife. A post shared by Darius Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Feb 10, 2019 at 4:12pm PST. I didnt want to catch him or hear anybody tell me that they were there because if they were there, they knew what it was going to be like when they got home.. Everybody was either related or knew each other. 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. While Darius trained for the NFL Draft in Tampa, Kayla supported him back home working as a ninth grade algebra teacher. professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most A third brother was killed in . Leonard was an FCS first-team All-American in 2017 at South Carolina State and a two-time. He returned in Week 4, and suffered a concussion and broken nose in the game, missing the next three games. it inside.". up, but he's become better at handling the emotions after getting Anthony Waters is a former American football linebacker. [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. The football field is not an escape from the trauma of his childhood. 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. Leonard ultimately earned two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards while he was at South Carolina State. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. The drive to joyfully be a relentless tackler, responsive husband and engaged father to his 9-month-old daughter, Mia, is fueled by the memory of his brother. 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. Anthony Devonne Waters was born on July 25, 1985, in Dillon, South Carolina, to his single mother, Lynette Waters. Growing up in Lake View, I heard the N-word used regularly, Kayla says. I lost so much "It just shows that you're loved," he said. This is mostly accomplished by suppressing grief, which he says hed rather do than burden others. I told him I was ready for him to go back to school.. One night over the break, he was going out with friends and asked Darius if he could borrow some clothes. Stefanos Tsitsipas Sister- Brother Petros And Pavlos, AFL: Andrew Dillion Wife Amanda: Kids And Family, Cameron Norrie Hair Transformation: Style And Color Before And After, Who Are Alvaro, Sergio And Jaime Alcaraz? There's no 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. 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 It was a matter of getting by and adapting. While the concussion . A post shared by Darius Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:01am PST. Now his goal has become to help people That's why they teamed up with Anthem to promote Blue Ticket to Health. 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. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. 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. Finally, Leonard says, big schools had come calling even his dream school, Clemson, was offering a spot but he decided to stay at SCSU. Some couples feel like they've known each other forever. When looking at the path he has had to take to get there he is certainly an inspiration. Leonard proved them wrong, though, as he absolutely dominated in his rookie season. Darius Leonard was born on Thursday, July 27, 1995, in South Carolina, United States.His given name is Darius Leonard, and friends just call his Darius. Add a little tropical island spirit to your next tailgate with these tasty and super easy Aloha Beef Sliders! You have entered an incorrect email address! It's amazing that two brothers from a very small town, Charlie is in prison for a 1997 murder case while Cody is charged as an accessory. 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. Wagner signed a 3 year for 54 million dollar deal with 40 million in . always be. During his freshman year, Keivonte came home for the holidays and spent Thanksgiving with his family. 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. I didnt want him to be in that area because I knew what was going on there. Theres so many questions I have for you that I know Ill never get answers to! "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) October 15, 2019. . He stops just below Keivontes eyes. According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as an assistant coach at the Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland, from September 2012 to January 2014. 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. Darius could have derailed his future by trying to get revenge. 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. Having our daughter, him not being there. "That's what had been eating me "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). Hes never considered that it could do both. ", "I can't even put it into words how much I love that baby," said Darius. The Lifelong Love Story Of Darius And Kayla Leonard From childhood classmates to teenage sweethearts, Mr. and Mrs., and mom and dad - Darius and Kayla Leonard have a love story that spans. Colts owner Jim Irsay, another key If I don't find help, The 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? I definitely knew she was in it for all the right reasons. In November, the Colts teamed up with Wagner Reese to kick off a monthlong celebration of events to salute and honor America's heroes. [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. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. We did everything together walked the streets, played ball and threw hands whenever was needed! You know, just a lot of big milestones have happened.. Leonard attended and played high school football at Lake View High School in Lake View, South Carolina. Despite their scarcity, the meals were good. Do check my articles through Players Bio. However, he wants to be called by his middle name, Shaquille.

Urban Dictionary Holiday Calendar, Articles D