I love you lil ugly dude! He even played Clemson in a game during his career and had 19 tackles and a blocked field goal in a loss, according to ESPN. Shaquille is my middle name that Ive went by since 95. with other NFL players, including the Atlanta Falcons' Hayden Hurst Texans GM Nick Caserio updates the progress of second-year WR John Metchie, who returned to the practice field this week after missing his entire rookie season battling leukemia. 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. 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. Leonard did two stints at a friends house, sleeping in a living room and a barn. On March 28, 2019, Mia Leonard was born. Ranks: PPR | non-PPR | Cheat Sheets [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. [45], During the following offseason, Leonard had surgery on his back to correct nerves being impinged by his disks. Sadly, one of his brothers has passed away. They called me Two Dollars because thats how much they cost. Leonard answered with more jokes rather than show how much it hurt. In astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly and momentarily shines thousands of times brighter, allowing onlookers to appreciate its previously hidden brilliance. Kayla is usually there to hug him. [14], Leonard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. Irsay said. The first day back to school after Christmas was always rough. With a lifetime of memories behind them and a lifetime before them, the story of Darius and Kayla is many chapters long. To Leonard, that meant his professional football dreams were over before they began. His brother Anthony Waters did and even led the Tigers in tackles in 2005 with 109, according to Clemsons team site. Winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, his brother not being there. 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). said there are still moments where those thoughts about his brother pop Shaquille Leonard Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Indianapolis Colts LB Darius Leonard wants to go by middle name - ESPN I believed in him.". They say time usually heals but I havent done much healing! His oldest brother, Charlie Waters, is serving a life sentence for murdering an 18 years old girl during an armed robbery at a fast food restaurant. Leonard responded by leading the NFL in tackles with 163 in 15 games, which was 19 more than the next closest player. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. 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. It was crazy," she said. We were always together. Tears. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". Introduction. [39] 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. It physically hurts. Darius' older brothers Charlie and Cody Waters are incarcerated. "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. Both his twin, Tyrell, and his younger brother, Dante, met untimely deaths as he has battled with attempting to resurrect his career after an ACL injury he suffered back in 2020. Leonard missed three of those early games in concussion protocol after an injury in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. "We went to a party and I asked him to go with me and my friend," she said. 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. "That's better than keeping "We got married officially a couple weeks after I got drafted," he said. Everybody was either related or knew each other. 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. . Kayla spotted him drifting from the celebration, so she followed him to the back of the room. "Me breaking down, showing my You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! He is a four-time All-Pro choice (First Team in 2018, 2020 and 2021; Second Team in 2019). In his senior year, Leonard posted another triple-digit total in tackles (114) and a career-high in sacks. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. [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. Darius Leonard Opens Up About Anxiety, Mental Health Struggles After Colts star Darius Leonards first two years in the league have been among the best debuts ever by a linebacker. [29] After the game, Leonard reportedly felt concussion like symptoms and was forced to miss the next three games. 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). I love you bro and I miss you more than anyone will ever know! When he was 2 years old, one of his brothers was convicted of murder and incarcerated. Used to be that whenever a wave of anxiety like that would hit me, I'd think I was having a heart attack. Why did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? - Sportskeeda Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. their basement and the commercial comes on, and maybe they think, This is mostly accomplished by suppressing grief, which he says hed rather do than burden others. "Her beautiful eyes," he said. I wasn't happy. [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Darius Leonard grew up one of nine kids in the no-stoplight, no-McDonald's town of Lake View, S.C., where the population is less than 800 and the median household income is less than $30,000.. He fiercely raises the hand sign of his frat, Omega Psi Phi while he does a jubilant, wide-legged jig. The furry face of the franchise since 2006 - this summer, Colts mascot, Blue, will be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. "I had my childhood friends there. 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. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an "accessory at a wrong place, wrong time," ESPN also reported. Meanwhile, Darius' football career was taking off. It was a matter of getting by and adapting. Its been 7 years since you left this crazy world and it still seems just like it was yesterday! [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. Leonard said. [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said, according to ESPN. We've been through so much and now it's like we're on top of the world! I have a empty spot if my heart that nobody can fill up but you! "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. The Lifelong Love Story Of Darius And Kayla Leonard - Indianapolis Colts The Colts linebacker also didnt seek revenge on those who had a part in another brother's death during a fight in a nightclub in 2012. His wife, Kayla, is the only person who sees that he occasionally aches from the trauma of his past. In the NFL, Lake View, South Carolinas Darius Leonard has created a nova. Leonard was the butt of elementary school jokes for wearing high waters and shoes from the discount department store, Maxway. Wonderful Story Between Darius Leonard and His Wife Kayla - PlayersGF.com Unfortunately, his younger brother, Keivonte Waters, died from a blow to the head after an argument at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, in 2012. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. He recently took part in a roundtable Once I did reach out, I knew that's what made it He is the embodiment of the rags to riches story weve seen chronicled in movies and music. "Then, I got nervous. Shaquille, for a long time. Hi, I'm Prajita Karki. Two fierce competitors, they challenged each other in every way. 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. A few more words, then another pause. 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. "I knew that I didn't want her to work again. The highest annual salary for an off ball linebacker in the NFL is currently Bobby Wagner's contract at 18 million per year. 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. aggressive positions on the field, there's still no weakness because And the Eagles feel the same way about their new acquisition, with GM Howie Roseman already looking forward to seeing what Swift can do playing with his hometown team. I wanted to put them on notice.. Inside the Mind of a Maniac: How Colts LB Darius Leonard Plans to Win Leonard and Kayla graduated the next semester. Growing up in Lake View, I heard the N-word used regularly, Kayla says. 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. Charlie is reportedly in prison for a "murder case" that happened in 1997, Leonard said, according to ESPN. He wasnt good enough to win a championship, and soon found out he wasnt good enough for Clemson. I definitely knew she was in it for all the right reasons. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" SCSU all time leading tackler in school history! Leonard called several schools, but the answer was the same. Leonard waited and waited for a scholarship offer to come after attending football camp there before his junior and senior years. Lake View's Leonard follows in brother's footsteps - SCNow On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. Who Is Angelia Jefferson? The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. She was always trying to protect me so I didnt end up on the same route as my two brothers, Leonard said. 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. Two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder, while he was in middle school Darius Leonard Height|Weight On March 20, 2018, Leonard participated at South Carolina State's pro day and performed the rest of his combine drills. The big house in the middle of nowhere. [12] Leonard was the sixth linebacker taken in the draft. He returned in Week 4, and suffered a concussion and broken nose in the game, missing the next three games. On Sunday, the Colts honored Coach Richard Nelloms and Jayden on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. And I was like, 'It's a day late.' with Kicking the Stigma Week, aseries of events, including the release of the Daly-led roundtable, from May 3-6. For his performance, Leonard was once again awarded with AFC Defensive Player of the Week. That's why they teamed up with Anthem to promote Blue Ticket to Health. We did everything together walked the streets, played ball and threw hands whenever was needed! Both brothers are in prison, but that doesnt stop Leonard from talking to them regularly. Tarik Cohen injured during workout by Steven J. Gaither May 17, 2022 His NFL aspirations were alive and well. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The three times Pro Bowl winner maintains a whopping net worth of about $60- $65 million in2023. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday at Colts training camp, Leonard said. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. I love, love it that he still talks to them, Lynette Waters said. Oh man, Im losing it, said Lynette Waters, the mother of Indianapolis Colts All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard. We had our t-shirts from kindergarten and we signed our names right beside each other.". "It was definitely tough, but everybody there was keeping her head straight, letting her know that it was going to be alright.". Then in 2019, Leonard continued to dominate. The family wasnt well off. Tarik Cohen, Darius Leonard open up during Mental Health Awareness After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. Then I opened the box and I went crazy. Darius Shaquille Leonard is a popular name in football. The football field is not an escape from the trauma of his childhood. Anthony With His Siblings (Source: Instagram). Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. However, he wants to be called by his middle name, Shaquille. "We would hang out all the time.". I asked her out in the sixth grade and she told me, 'No.' Darius Leonard grew up in a small town, Lake View, in Dillon County, South Carolina, United States. Leonard pushes his daughters stroller through a Lake View High School football game. When I lost my brother, when I didn't have anything - she was always there," said Darius. A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). 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. "It felt unreal - him being on the phone and watching it on TV. A third brother was killed in . Questions. Darius is very much alive. Select-A-Seat | May 6 | Lucas Oil Stadium. [37] "It just shows that you're loved," he said. 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. Anthony During His Collegiate Days (Source: 247 Sports), When he returned home one day, Anthony recalls giving Darius a duffle bag filled with cones, resistance wires, and a speed ladder and telling him, If you want to make it, you will have to go and get it on your own.. You never know what you have until its gone, Keivonte warned, reminding Darius to cherish that relationship. moving past the stigma related to mental health conditions during an On that winter day, Waters took off after the white Mercedes-Benz with the red bow on it that Leonard purchased for her after completing a rookie season when he led the NFL in tackles. Lewis McGruder (1949-2017) - Find a Grave Memorial Getting drafted, his brother not being there. He is a recovering pro athlete and superficial intellectual. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? 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 Hes not going to forget about them. "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. A few months later, Kayla had a surprise for Darius - she was expecting. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. My heart aches. Avoiding family trauma put Colts' Darius Leonard on All-Pro path - ESPN From $100K on his wedding to $280K on classic cars, find out everything Darius Leonard spent the first million dollars in the NFL on. Thomas and Darren Most figured Darius Leonard was far too skinny to do on Sundays what he was doing on Saturdays. Leonard explained that his family has always called him Shaquille growing up. Leonard is one of the nine children of his mother. [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. Some nights, I still go to a dark place. He stops just below Keivontes eyes. Charlie writes his brother a letter every game. Leonard discussed the importance of Daryl King, their high school coach, would frequently phone Waters. She couldn't come up and see me," he said. Nor is it an outlet to release the emotions he has bottled up. He was also the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is entering his third NFL season as a star on the rise. If theres music playing at practices or games, he is dancing. [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. Gradually, they allowed more people to find out about them, but there was a cost. Leonard signed a five-year, $99.25 million extension with $52.5 million guaranteed, and his family, both past and future, were at the forefont. INDIANAPOLIS -- It started out as a pause on the phone. The rise and rage of Colts rookie Darius Leonard [33][34], Following the season, he was voted into his first Pro Bowl appearance. Waters later played professionally. hopeful the message is able to reach those in need. 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 .

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