The Fascinating Dilemma of a Darius Leonard contract extension Thats the kind of guy is, King says. 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. One night over the break, he was going out with friends and asked Darius if he could borrow some clothes. I love, love it that he still talks to them, Lynette Waters said. In his senior year, Leonard posted another triple-digit total in tackles (114) and a career-high in sacks. My heart still hurts knowing that my best friend, my roll dog, my partner in crime but most importantly my brother isnt here with me today! [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. They met in Ms. Susans kindergarten class, playing on the kitchen set. After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). You won't want to miss a moment of the 2023 season! [14], Leonard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. [7] Leonard's performance at the Senior Bowl immensely helped his draft stock. In November, the Colts teamed up with Wagner Reese to kick off a monthlong celebration of events to salute and honor America's heroes. Only one school had an open spot: South Carolina State University. [9][10], The Indianapolis Colts selected Leonard in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. A few months later, Kayla had a surprise for Darius - she was expecting. Stigma mental health initiative, which will formally launch in May, However, he never did. Getting drafted, his brother not being there. He missed his rookie season in 2007 and played seven games for the Chargers in 2008. Shaquille Leonard Stats, News, Bio | ESPN Two fierce competitors, they challenged each other in every way. Add a little tropical island spirit to your next tailgate with these tasty and super easy Aloha Beef Sliders! "I wanted to show that she's the one and she deserves everything," he said. Leonard was everywhere, recording a game-high 19 tackles and blocking a field goal. He had eyes for only one: Clemson, where older brother Anthony Waters had gone before being drafted by the Chargers. I met him at the courthouse and he had on workout clothes and I'm like, 'What are you doing? He also became the first NFL player since 1982 to have 10-plus sacks and five-plus interceptions in his first 25 games. Beginning at 9 a.m. He is also the younger brother to former NFL player Anthony Waters. aggressive positions on the field, there's still no weakness because Kayla and Darius have known each other for almost their entire lives. Three months after she arrived, Mia had a very important job. Darius Leonard: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know - FamousDetails A lot of people have a stigma, especially as men, that While attending SCSU, he regularly drove the two hours to Lake View to help coach the football team, calling head coach Daryl King with notes on upcoming opponents. Darius Leonard was raised on a farm bailing hay, raising crops, hunting, fishing, and everything else many southerners do growing up. Leonard's enjoyment of football was further hindered by a bout with COVID-19 at a crucial point of the 2021 regular season, as well as the seemingly constant pull of worry about a couple of sick . So far, he's doing a good job of it. [30] In Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins, Leonard recorded a team high 13 tackles, sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick once, intercepted a pass thrown by Fitzpatrick, and forced a fumble on tight end Mike Gesicki which was recovered by teammate Kenny Moore in the 1612 loss. And she was like, 'I've got a present for you.' He had been saving his scholarship refund checks and used a friends employee discount to buy a ring from Kay Jewelers. San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. "And taking care of us - he always makes sure that we're straight and we have everything we need. Thomas and Darren in similar situations who may be trying to bottle up their emotions If I don't find help, From $100K on his wedding to $280K on classic cars, find out everything Darius Leonard spent the first million dollars in the NFL on. It physically hurts. Darius Leonard is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' football team, an American football player. Currently, he is 27 years old, and his 28th birthday is in .You can learn more interesting insights about this date, as well as your own birthday, at BirthdayDetails.. Darius was born in the Millennials Generation . 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. And I should have known something because she was recording me. "It definitely was . Leonard with his wife Kayla Leonard, and their daughter, Mia. We probably hid our relationship for the first two years, Leonard says. Similarly, his second oldest brother, Cody Waters, is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. 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. Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. Darius Leonard Opens Up About Anxiety, Mental Health Struggles After For the time being, Leonard remains shelved for the start of training camp, but he said the recovery has been going well. Lewis McGruder (1949-2017) - Find a Grave Memorial The team released him on, Anthony Inspired Darius To Compete In NFL. 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. hopeful the message is able to reach those in need. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. Tarik Cohen, Darius Leonard open up during Mental Health Awareness @dsleon45. Kaylas friends were direct, she remembers: Why are you dating a black boy?, We lost friendships over it, says Leonard, who said people werent as bold when with him. I always remain humble and just keep trying to play each play to my best ability., Darius Leonard avoided his brothers' mistakes on path to All-Pro year. "We were actually in the same class," she said. I wanted to put them on notice.. Mind of a Maniac, by one of Leonards favorite rappers, Lil Boosie, was already part of his pregame playlist, and it remains today. SCSU went into Death Valley and lost 59-0. "It's OK to not be OK," I have a empty spot if my heart that nobody can fill up but you! [12] Leonard was the sixth linebacker taken in the draft. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. While Darius trained for the NFL Draft in Tampa, Kayla supported him back home working as a ninth grade algebra teacher. I really wish i was there the night of your incident but God had other plans! SC State Grad C/O17! [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. She returned to teach at Lake View, but Darius had one more season of eligibility. I had a big chip on my shoulder, he says. Eventually, he got the courage to ask her out. His NFL aspirations were alive and well. 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. Anthony Waters, Brother of Darius Leonard (Source: Wikipedia). Cast aside by his dream school, labeled one of the worst picks in the draft. Instead of getting in with the wrong crowd, Leonard was using some wood to make a square rim to play basketball. On the eve of his 27th birthday, Shaquille Leonard has decided to make a distinct change entering his fifth NFL season. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. "I talked trash to her. At the end of the first quarter, he had tips for Coach King. Darius Leonard Brother: Bio, Early Life [2023 Update] - Players Bio I can't wait to have a few more and give her some brothers and sisters.". The tiny gray townhouse in Mullins, South Carolina. Wagner signed a 3 year for 54 million dollar deal with 40 million in . 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. From then on, Leonard was known as The Maniac. Leonards connection to the nickname went deeper than his teammates had anticipated. Everybody was either related or knew each other. After the Minnesota Vikings spent a fifth-round pick on a quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed the future of current starter Kirk Cousins beyond his contract year. Leonards $1.6 million salary this season makes him the 93rd highest-paid linebacker in football a ranking that should change significantly the next time hes eligible for a contract. Spr 15. I told him I was ready for him to go back to school.. According to Leonard, its not a coincidence that they ended up next to each other in the class picture she moved the other little girls so she could stand by me. (Kayla rolls her eyes, but doesnt deny it.) Darius is very much alive. Lolo Jones Sister- Brother James Jones Jr, Who Is Elisavet Tsitsipas? [39] I was digging a hole, going further and further in the hole, until I actually had to talk to a therapist, she says. This article was last updated by Krisha Shrestha on April 26, 2023. Five years today I was awakened from a call that I had lost not only my best friend, my partner in crime, my everything , most of all my blood brother! But in the almost eight years since, she has seen him cry countless times. "We got married officially a couple weeks after I got drafted," he said. Domonique Foxworth is a senior writer at Andscape. The 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the [19] The following week, Leonard recorded 13 combined tackles (nine solo) and made two sacks on Eagles' quarterback Carson Wentz in the Colts' 2016 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3. For Colts star Darius Leonard, it's takeaways on the field, giving back As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. He played collegiate football for South Carolina State Bulldogs. While he was in high school, Leonard wanted to play college football at Clemson. In middle school, two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. up, but he's become better at handling the emotions after getting Waters tears and emotion could have been a lot different if Leonard had taken the path of two of his older brothers, who are in prison. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Anthony With His Siblings (Source: Instagram). Darius Leonard Bio, Age, stars, Net worth, Contrats,