He overcame a lot of tragedy before becoming a star on the Indianapolis Colts. Hes great in space, a sure tackler, and he came into the league with a knack for blitzing.. [37] Anthony was a role model to his brother Darius, and he pushed Darius to be who he is today. "Her beautiful eyes," he said. Two others are in prison. 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. So the temptation and peer pressure was always present. Unlike other brothers, his younger brother, Darius Shaquille Leonard, is an accomplished American football linebacker for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. It's something Colts mascot, Blue, does all year long. He attended Clemson University for his college studies and started his playing career there. Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. The video captured hearts - a young football player tearfully reading a thank you letter to his coach. The Colts won nine of their last 10 regular-season games, plus a playoff game for the first time since 2014. [22] On November 18, 2018, Leonard made seven combined tackles, one pass deflection, one sack, and his first career interception during a 3810 victory against the Tennessee Titans in Week 11. Darius Leonard is one of the best players in the entire NFL. Just days later, that relationship would be what got Leonard through Keivontes death. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. ", "We knew we wanted to get married and being so far away from home, we wanted to go ahead and do it," she said. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. What got him through many of those childhood trials was his relationship with Keivonte. There's no Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads | EU Privacy Rights | Cookie Policy | Manage Preferences. The big house in the middle of nowhere. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. "I talked trash to her. Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. with Kicking the Stigma Week, aseries of events, including the release of the Daly-led roundtable, from May 3-6. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an "accessory at a wrong place, wrong time," ESPN also reported. On Darius Leonard's birthday. you can't show weakness. He played collegiate football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. Darius Leonard steps out of his in-laws house on a five-acre farm. He is known by many as Darius. I lost so much After being traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Denver Broncos, tight end Adam Trautman revealed he was "hoping to get moved.". at your next game day gathering! Make sure you put that in there," he laughed. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Or he was playing baseball or at home playing cards with friends. In the NFL, Lake View, South Carolinas Darius Leonard has created a nova. Daryl King, their high school coach, would frequently phone Waters. Year explained he had a minor disagreement with his brother before By his senior year, Darius' journey to the NFL had begun. 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. I wanted it to be official that she was my wife. Instead, he is a college graduate and an NFL All-Pro. [26] Leonard recorded the most tackles among all players as a rookie in 2018. Thats Darius being Darius. "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. Darius' closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. . 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. As a child, Leonard and his family moved often. So much joy - I was definitely happy. 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. For a time after his brothers death, Leonard thought that celebratory draft moment would not come. Leonard has a tattoo of his brother, Keivonte Walters, who was killed in 2012. Only one school had an open spot: South Carolina State University. How Darius Leonard Spent His First $1M in the NFL - GQ Introduction. I couldn't sleep. Leonard heard the news that his brother, Keivonte Waters, had died a day after an altercation at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, which was about 25 minutes from Lake View. Charlie is reportedly in prison for a murder case that happened in 1997, Leonard said, according to ESPN. Its still hard on him, his mother says. Leonard attended and played high school football at Lake View High School in Lake View, South Carolina. His fathers name is unknown. Depth charts: Offense | Defense "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. Darius Leonard is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' football team, an American football player. I'm letting the world know, as a In astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly and momentarily shines thousands of times brighter, allowing onlookers to appreciate its previously hidden brilliance. "It was definitely tough being away from the team, not being able to go out there and help your brothers out," Leonard said. Before Keivontes death, she had never seen Leonard show any real emotion. "It definitely was . [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. In his career at South Carolina State, he started all 43 games and led the team in tackles in three separate seasons. as host to discuss their "struggles and breakthroughs and the One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Once I did reach out, I knew that's what made it The June sun reflects off iridescent dragonflies that zip in the South Carolina morning air. 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? I forget everything I was going to say. A little more than a decade later, another brother was found guilty of accessory to murder. 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. He stops just below Keivontes eyes. He had eyes for only one: Clemson, where older brother Anthony Waters had gone before being drafted by the Chargers. [35], In Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, Leonard recorded a team high nine tackles and recorded a strip sack on quarterback Matthew Stafford which was recovered by the Colts during the 4121 win. hopeful the message is able to reach those in need. 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. I can't wait to have a few more and give her some brothers and sisters.". He and Kayla imagine Keivonte watching Darius play on Sundays and playing with their daughter at home. before training; after his training and practice, he grew to 62 (189 cm) and 180 lbs. A local news crew, there to capture the hometown mans moment, caught what everyone assumed were tears of joy. 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. Kayla means the most. The Colts still managed to start 5-2 but then lost five of six. Check it out! "Everybody just grew up together," Kayla said. As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. He had 19 tackles and a blocked field goal in a 59-0 loss to Clemson in 2016. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Headed into this season, the Colts were a trendy Super Bowl pick. 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. But in the almost eight years since, she has seen him cry countless times. up, but he's become better at handling the emotions after getting Anthony was like a role model for his younger brother, Darius. the fact their relationship ended on a low note after years of being 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. Darius could have derailed his future by trying to get revenge. argument at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, in 2012. play college football at Clemson just like his brother. Darius Leonard put his team on blast after the loss - Sportscasting Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said, according to ESPN. Now his goal has become to help people Leonard was the butt of elementary school jokes for wearing high waters and shoes from the discount department store, Maxway. Both brothers are in prison, but that doesnt stop Leonard from talking to them regularly. Leonard at the home of his in-laws. Darius was 510 (156 cm) and 135 lbs. Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. His five interceptions led all linebackers and tied for fourth in the entire NFL. "We were actually in the same class," she said. Darius Shaquille Leonard (@dsleon45) / Twitter "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season. Darius Leonard Girlfriend: All About Kayla Sanderson! Then her voice cracked. Darius's other brother Keivonte died in 2012 due to injuries sustained in a bar fight. Darius Leonard was raised on a farm bailing hay, raising crops, hunting, fishing, and everything else many southerners do growing up. [33][34], Following the season, he was voted into his first Pro Bowl appearance. The tiny gray townhouse in Mullins, South Carolina. But I didnt have to because he had a good head on his shoulders and knew that wasnt the way to go.. According to Colts.com, he was the first player since Bryan Cox in 1992 to record at least 125 tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles in a single season. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. "I knew that I didn't want her to work again. Theres always something that happens in his life where he thinks about his brother, and that triggers different emotions, she says. Waters was often working, but she made sure Leonard knew where not to go: an area in the Lake View area known as the Hilltop. [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. He played collegiate football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. 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 . Im getting emotional, tearing up. 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. Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. It's something we talked about, something that I really wanted.". The last thing he wanted for his mother to do was embarrass him for his mistakes, as she did when she went to his school during his sophomore year and scolded him for getting in trouble, threatening him by saying she would take away sports. "Get ready to rock 'n' roll when time comes.". You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! You never know what you have until its gone, Keivonte warned, reminding Darius to cherish that relationship. [40] You've had classic Sloppy Joes, but what about Hawaiian style or Southwest? So, he made it happen," she said. Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said. 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. Youre an injury away from not playing this game anymore. [9][10], The Indianapolis Colts selected Leonard in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. "We went to a party and I asked him to go with me and my friend," she said. The Colts beat the Houston Texans 21-7 in the wild-card round before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. 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. When the draft came, they rented a house in Myrtle Beach and filled it with family. Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. 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. "Me breaking down, showing my According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as an assistant coach at the Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland, from September 2012 to January 2014. I wasn't the full energetic guy I would He is a recovering pro athlete and superficial intellectual. "We got married officially a couple weeks after I got drafted," he said. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time, ESPN also reported. But he admits that smile is sometimes forced. "The way I'm going, I'm very happy," Leonard said. Leonard ultimately earned two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards while he was at South Carolina State. 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. Hurt | By Darius Leonard - The Players' Tribune The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Indianapolis locks up Darius Leonard with richest LB contract First, quarterback Andrew Luck abruptly retired in the preseason. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. Who Is Angelia Jefferson? One night over the break, he was going out with friends and asked Darius if he could borrow some clothes. Darius Leonard Opens Up About Anxiety, Mental Health Struggles After I believed in him.". "We hung out that night. A few more words, then another pause. emotions, that's helping me out rather than keeping my emotions But, burning that fuel affects Leonard in ways that go somewhat unnoticed. Leonard and Anthony chose a different path than his brothers. By the time he did, Clemson, which had shown interest, he says, but wouldnt commit until he got his grades up, was out of scholarships. They would just stop talking to me and stop giving me rides.. Why did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? - Sportskeeda In November, the Colts teamed up with Wagner Reese to kick off a monthlong celebration of events to salute and honor America's heroes. 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..