I wanted to see my mom happy all the time, not having to stress out worrying about me., Leonard doesnt go into a lot of details about why his brothers -- Charlie and Cody Waters -- are incarcerated. 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. you can't show weakness. I wasn't the full energetic guy I would Super successful country singer Darius Rucker's family - BHW The Colts know how important health is - to their football team and their community. 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. My mind starts racing. He is the embodiment of the rags to riches story weve seen chronicled in movies and music. December 15th will always be the worst day of my life knowing that your life was taken away! emotions, that's helping me out rather than keeping my emotions with other NFL players, including the Atlanta Falcons' Hayden Hurst Anthony played in the NFL for four years despite being told he would make the same mistakes as his elder brothers and get arrested. 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. @dsleon45. He wasnt good enough to win a championship, and soon found out he wasnt good enough for Clemson. It was definitely great seeing her come around the corner in that beautiful dress.". "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. 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. Stigma mental health initiative, which will formally launch in May, I wasn't happy. Leonards life, however, hasnt always been great. According to our research, Anthony has 9 siblings. Another life-changing call came when sitting in a Waffle House on a night in December 2012. [48] In December 2018, Leonard announced the couple was expecting a baby girl. Unfortunately, Denard passed away on January 8, 2013, at the age of 29. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is entering his third NFL season as a star on the rise. He was also the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. Colts' Darius Leonard feared for NFL career after missing substantial He is also the younger brother to former NFL player Anthony Waters. There's no Leonards mother, Lynette, turned to counseling. After being traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Denver Broncos, tight end Adam Trautman revealed he was "hoping to get moved.". professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most way I'm 19, 20 years old feeling this way, no way I should be getting From the time Darius was born, about a year after Keivonte, they slept in the same room. . 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? They would just stop talking to me and stop giving me rides.. "I knew I needed help, and for a long time, I Leonards favorite portrayal is YFN Luccis 2016 song, Everyday We Lit I came up from nothing / Did it on my own / I swear I aint never expected it to be like this.. In November, the Colts teamed up with Wagner Reese to kick off a monthlong celebration of events to salute and honor America's heroes. Playing for a school like South Carolina State, Leonard wasnt a big-time prospect going into the 2018 NFL draft. But the pictures are funny. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his Instagram and Twitter. Darius Leonard and company will likely be a borderline playoff team again next season. "It was definitely tough, but everybody there was keeping her head straight, letting her know that it was going to be alright.". He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. Kayla and his mother say Leonard still hasnt directly dealt with the emotional aftermath of the traumatic loss. Leonard was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Beth Leonard (ex-spouse) Duration of Marriage: December 9, 2000 - July 2020 (20 years) It was love at first sight when country singer Rucker met Leonard for the very first time in New York. in similar situations who may be trying to bottle up their emotions L'Corine Gilchrist (nee Rucker) . In general manager Ran Carthon's first draft in charge in Tennessee, the Titans made six selections, all of them on offense, the first time since at least 1994 that the club used all of its selections on one side of the ball. Leonard intercepted a pass by Titans backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, that was intended for wide receiver Tajae Sharpe, and returned it for a ten-yard gain during the third quarter. I believed in him.". [39] The furry face of the franchise since 2006 - this summer, Colts mascot, Blue, will be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame. 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. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season. What got him through many of those childhood trials was his relationship with Keivonte. Leonard closes the 15 yards from the front door to the driveway, where I stand, in a few long strides. SCSU all time leading tackler in school history! We've been through so much and now it's like we're on top of the world! Darius Leonard on love, loss and second chances Andscape ", "We knew we wanted to get married and being so far away from home, we wanted to go ahead and do it," she said. Anthony With His Siblings (Source: Instagram). After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. And I should have known something because she was recording me. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). [37] I just wanted to hug him, and say, Im sorry. . "I didn't think we would go up there and do a ceremony. He had a little peanut head, she says with a laugh. Darius Leonard is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' football team, an American football player. Discovering Darius Leonard: How a scout's certainty connected the Colts [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. 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.". Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. A second round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, all of Darius' dreams were coming true. Quite the opposite. alive," Leonard said. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. I'm still in the early stages of my writing career, but it's been a fun ride so far! Darius closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. "The way I'm going, I'm very happy," Leonard said. [43], Leonard was named Associated Press First Team All-Pro. Darius was 510 (156 cm) and 135 lbs. 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. [23] In Week 15, Leonard broke the Colts' franchise record for most tackles by a rookie in a single season with 143, in a 230 win vs the Dallas Cowboys. Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. [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. While Darius trained for the NFL Draft in Tampa, Kayla supported him back home working as a ninth grade algebra teacher. "It changed our whole life, our relationship. "It just shows that you're loved," he said. After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. I'll do anything just to see, talk and hug you one more time! [4] He also won the MEAC defensive player of the year award again after the 2017 season. 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. He made his return in Week 7 against the Houston Texans. 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.. Once I did reach out, I knew that's what made it He would run through the early morning gloom to the weight room at his high school. 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 . She talked trash to me. After the game, at midfield, he asked Kayla to marry him. 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. When looking at the path he has had to take to get there he is certainly an inspiration. "We were all around him watching TV and he was on the phone with Chris Ballard and the family got so loud he had to tell everybody to be quiet. Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker's relationship shows the power of He is a four-time All-Pro choice (First Team in 2018, 2020 and 2021; Second Team in 2019). Katy Kellner Bio: Early Life, Husband, Baby Who Is Angelia Jefferson? 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.
