darius leonard brothers

I'll do anything just to see, talk and hug you one more time! "That's what had been eating me The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. I was digging a hole, going further and further in the hole, until I actually had to talk to a therapist, she says. When he was 2 years old, one of his brothers was convicted of murder and incarcerated. One night over the break, he was going out with friends and asked Darius if he could borrow some clothes. A class clown, Leonard had to work in his senior year to get his grades and SAT scores high enough to be Division 1-eligible. Soon, he realized that what he loved was her. The loss of his brother still weighs on Leonard. [8] Leonard attended the NFL Scouting Combine, but was unable to complete all of his combine drills after injuring his quadriceps while running his 40-yard dash. After four full seasons in the NFL, the linebacker will be known as Shaquille instead of Darius.. Depth charts: Offense | Defense Leonard has gone from being an unknown guy while coming into the NFL draft to becoming one of the best linebackers in the league. He was also the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. What got him through many of those childhood trials was his relationship with Keivonte. "I always wanted a big wedding and he knew I wanted a big wedding. Cast aside by his dream school, labeled one of the worst picks in the draft. 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.. "Claflin and South Carolina State have a fence that separates them," she said. Darius Leonard Indianapolis Colts Dec 15, 2020 I still can't sleep some nights. Darius Leonard is an American football linebacker for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. That called changed my life in so many ways! A post shared by Darius Shaquille Leonard (@mr_highflyer10). Thomas and Darren He is 23 years of age as of 2018 Darius Leonard Family Leonard was born in Nichols, South Carolina, as one of the nine children to a single mother. The phenomenon comes from an interaction between two stars one living, one dead. He posted 70 stops the following year (2015), 13.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 of those for loss, with five sacks and two interceptions to earn a first-team all-conference selection as a redshirt sophomore. He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. [45], During the following offseason, Leonard had surgery on his back to correct nerves being impinged by his disks. As a 24-year-old family man, NFL star and Colts team captain, the pressure Leonard puts on himself has only increased. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Leonard was projected to be a second or third round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. with Kicking the Stigma Week, aseries of events, including the release of the Daly-led roundtable, from May 3-6. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. after going through his own struggles following the death of his The Colts still managed to start 5-2 but then lost five of six. It was definitely great seeing her come around the corner in that beautiful dress.". He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. On Saturday, July 30, NFL Network will present Training Camp: Back Together Saturday. In middle school, two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. My mind starts racing. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. The family wasnt well off. Thats the kind of guy is, King says. Leonard said he's taking on a lead role in the team's Kicking the Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. [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 this was also another reminder of the person who wasnt there. Darius Leonard on love, loss and second chances, stops to change a strangers tire on the side of a country road. Growing up in Lake View, I heard the N-word used regularly, Kayla says. He and his fiancee had a daughter in 2019. Veteran RB Latavius Murray signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, the team announced Monday. Leonard was everywhere, recording a game-high 19 tackles and blocking a field goal. After practice, he would stay late, working alone on a deserted field for hours. 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.". "We went to a party and I asked him to go with me and my friend," she said. Leonard with his wife Kayla Leonard, and their daughter, Mia. 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. Eventually, he got the courage to ask her out. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? He had an impressive game against ACC powerhouse Clemson, totaling 19 tackles. And he knew he wanted to take Kayla with him. They would just stop talking to me and stop giving me rides.. As Leonard goes forward with the name he grew up with, expect the same game-changing play he's consistently produced for five seasons. Before getting into the details, let us first go through some quick facts. figure in the launch of the Kicking the Stigma campaign, said they're Leonard looks forward to celebrating that milestone, but he knows he is going to get it the same way he gets everything else: with hard work and Kaylas support. He made his return in Week 7 against the Houston Texans. ", "We knew we wanted to get married and being so far away from home, we wanted to go ahead and do it," she said. A second round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, all of Darius' dreams were coming true. Her personality is great. Anthonys mother had to work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. When high school was over, Darius went to South Carolina State to play football. He recently took part in a roundtable He also became the first NFL player since 1982 to have 10-plus sacks and five-plus interceptions in his first 25 games. Darius Shaquille Leonard. Year explained he had a minor disagreement with his brother before Trouble was easy to find in Lake View, South Carolina, a town with a population of less than 800. Used to be that whenever a wave of anxiety like that would hit me, I'd think I was having a heart attack. "She has the most beautiful eyes ever.". And her eyes - they kept me coming back.". On November 11, 2017, Leonard proposed to his girlfriend Kayla, whom he had known since kindergarten, after SC State beat Hampton. After trading D'Andre Swift to the Eagles on Saturday, Lions GM Brad Holmes went on record as saying that the exchange was a "win-win for all parties involved." I wasn't happy. Domonique Foxworth is a senior writer at Andscape. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). I dont take nothing for granted. With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Where we grew up, when something like that happens, it often leads to fights or revenge, Ford said. Just days later, that relationship would be what got Leonard through Keivontes death. Leonard was an FCS first-team All-American in 2017 at South Carolina State and a two-time. Her beautiful smile. Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Darius was severely affected as Keivonte happened to be his closest sibling. He was named a First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season. [12] Leonard was the sixth linebacker taken in the draft. Leonard said. San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. That's when it really hit me that I need help. I'm letting the world know, as a In 2010, he won a Super Bowl with the Saints. And I had my Colts friends there.". Carlos Alcaraz Brothers And Family, Jalen Hurts: Early Life, Girlfriend & Controversy, All About Nelson Agholor Girlfriend: Viviana Volpicelli. Leonard ultimately earned two MEAC Defensive Player of the Year awards while he was at South Carolina State. There's no From the time Darius was born, about a year after Keivonte, they slept in the same room. Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. I called her to the middle of the field," he said. Finally, Leonard says, big schools had come calling even his dream school, Clemson, was offering a spot but he decided to stay at SCSU. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. We were always together. There is a diamond-studded 53 hanging from one of a few gold chains. [40] After we greeted one another, he tucked his jewelry into his shirt. 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. Anthony Devonne Waters was born on July 25, 1985, in Dillon, South Carolina, to his single mother, Lynette Waters. Leonard returned to his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina, during the teams bye week. The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically. He played college football at South Carolina State and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts. He was hit from behind and knocked cold, dying after a brief stay in the hospital. . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But only the details of 4 of them are available. 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. In astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly and momentarily shines thousands of times brighter, allowing onlookers to appreciate its previously hidden brilliance. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . In 2011, an interracial relationship was still taboo in their tiny Southern town. 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. And then in the 11th grade, she came back begging. You have entered an incorrect email address! Two others are in prison. 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! "And taking care of us - he always makes sure that we're straight and we have everything we need. A week after Leonard accepted his first Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year award in December 2016, he was back in Lake View, up in the booth for us on the headsets during the state championship game. [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. His wife, Kayla, is the only person who sees that he occasionally aches from the trauma of his past. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. Anthony Waters, Brother of Darius Leonard (Source: Wikipedia). "I definitely loved that - an athlete who was just as good in their sport as I was in mine.". 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Darius is very much alive. The first day back to school after Christmas was always rough. Born July 27, 1995, Leonard played high school football at Lake View High School in Lake View, S.C. His dream was to attend Clemson, but his grades needed some work, and by the time he qualified academically, the Tigers had already awarded all of their scholarships for the upcoming season. A little more than a decade later, another brother was found guilty of accessory to murder. 'I'll give it one last whirl.'". He had a little peanut head, she says with a laugh. Charlie is reportedly in prison for a murder case that happened in 1997, Leonard said, according to ESPN. Darius closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. But, burning that fuel affects Leonard in ways that go somewhat unnoticed. I didnt want him to be in that area because I knew what was going on there. [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. She didnt want me to have to be fist-bumping my family through the glass [in prison] like my brothers. In Week 9 against the Baltimore Ravens, Leonard recorded a team high 15 tackles (13 solo) and recovered a fumble forced by DeForest Buckner on Gus Edwards during the 2410 loss. didn't reach out. I wanted her to come up with me. The rise - and rage - of The Maniac twitter comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment 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. Leonard faced another obstacle in high school. This is mostly accomplished by suppressing grief, which he says hed rather do than burden others. "We've got to reach that person who is sitting in You know, just a lot of big milestones have happened.. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. He is known by many as Darius. I just wanted to hug him, and say, Im sorry. . 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.. And what made it fun in high school was that when I would go work out after school - she worked out with me. Darius Shaquille Leonard is a popular name in football. it inside.". Leonard wants more, like 200 tackles, 10 sacks, Defensive Player of the Year, the Pro Bowl and winning a Super Bowl. In Week 17 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Leonard led the team with 10 tackles and recorded a strip sack on Mike Glennon that was recovered by the Colts during the 2814 win. [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. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) October 15, 2019. . SCSU went into Death Valley and lost 59-0. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. help. For the time being, Leonard remains shelved for the start of training camp, but he said the recovery has been going well. During his freshman year, Keivonte came home for the holidays and spent Thanksgiving with his family. Got that fresh Boosie, I see., Long-limbed and muscular, Leonard is wearing dark gym shorts and a royal blue Lake View High School Football T-shirt. I had a big chip on my shoulder, he says. Kayla and his mother say Leonard still hasnt directly dealt with the emotional aftermath of the traumatic loss. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" They had to overcome many tragedies and losses before becoming a star. 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. Dariuss full fame is Darius Shaquille Leonard. She said yes. Before all of his football success, though, Leonard had to overcome a lot. My heart aches. "It changed our whole life, our relationship. The 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the 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? Even now, on the bad days, the routine is always the same. 6 pick. Leonard and Keivonte were born only a year apart. The world's population was 5,751,474,416 and there were an estimated year babies born throughout the world in . If I don't find help, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's picture-perfect 'Peanut Punch' forces fumble and turnover. I couldn't sleep. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. He speaks the truth on everything, Leonard says. 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. God let my child live his dream, whether or not he buys me nothing. [4] He also won the MEAC defensive player of the year award again after the 2017 season. I currently write articles related to players for Hansikar Technologies. Leonard attended and played high school football at Lake View High School in Lake View, South Carolina. Darius Leonard looked into the young man's eyes, and once he managed to look past the anguish and regret and hopelessness, he saw something that looked strangely familiar. Darius Leonard biography. Darius Leonard grew up in a small town, Lake View, in Dillon County, South Carolina, United States. For Darius, there was always something about Kayla. A few hours later, Darius got a call. Charlie is in prison for a 1997 murder case while Cody is charged as an accessory. Denial. There is a empty spot in my life where you needed to be! [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. "I knew that I didn't want her to work again. Jeffrey Brown/Icon . Keivonte was being rushed to the hospital, unconscious after a fight at a club. It's something Colts mascot, Blue, does all year long. When the house was particularly crowded, they shared a bed. Darius Leonard grew up wanting to follow in his brother's footsteps. After the game, at midfield, he asked Kayla to marry him. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard is entering his third NFL season as a star on the rise. [2] After the 2016 season, Leonard was named the MEAC defensive player of the year, making SC State the first school to win the award four years in a row. 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. ", "She was a baller - softball, basketball, and volleyball. A post shared by Darius Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:01am PST. It is safe to say that this season has not gone according to plan. 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! NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and prime-time regular-season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand and more! Introduction. INDIANAPOLIS Darius Leonard always believed he was the best linebacker in football. Unlike other brothers, his younger brother, Darius Shaquille Leonard, is an accomplished American football linebacker for the NFL team Indianapolis Colts. I also knew that was the route I didnt want to go. Unfortunately, Denard passed away on January 8, 2013, at the age of 29. 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. Youre an injury away from not playing this game anymore. Darius' older brothers Charlie and Cody Waters are incarcerated. Some nights, I still go to a dark place. It was crazy," she said. By his senior year, Darius' journey to the NFL had begun. Darius Leonard steps out of his in-laws house on a five-acre farm. "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. I get emotional because it goes back to how he was raised and the man hes become.. The three times Pro Bowl winner maintains a whopping net worth of about $60- $65 million in2023. He also had seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Before every game, Leonard winds tape tightly around his wrist and up his forearm. And they've been inseparable ever since. Shaquille is my middle name that Ive went by since 95. Every season, we always talked about who was going to have the most stats," he said. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Colts won nine of their last 10 regular-season games, plus a playoff game for the first time since 2014. @kdubb_15 man I miss you and love you more than I've ever expressed while you were here! The video captured hearts - a young football player tearfully reading a thank you letter to his coach. The Indianapolis Colts made sure he gets paid like it. For real. But in the almost eight years since, she has seen him cry countless times. We had a mutual friend who had a barn and we would go there and hang out with all of our friends. "We got married officially a couple weeks after I got drafted," he said. When Mia arrived in March, she changed everything. "We took a picture together and we were right beside each other. His 73 solo tackles in 2017 put him in the Top 10 in the nation, and 412 of his sacks came in his final two games. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. Darius and his brother Anthonys life wasnt always perfect. Survivors include: 2 daughters, Carmen and Simone McGruder; 2 grandsons, Andre II and Darius Johnson; granddaughter, Kailanie Cobb; 3 brothers, Leonard, Byron and Gregory McGruder; 2 sisters, Elizabeth and Pat McGruder; other relatives and friends. The football field is not an escape from the trauma of his childhood. Leonard is one of the nine children of his mother. A third brother was killed in . work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. My chest gets tight. Did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? Questions. Leonard is still recovering from back surgery he underwent on June 7. After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. I met him at the courthouse and he had on workout clothes and I'm like, 'What are you doing? I love you lil ugly dude! Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard will no longer be called Darius moving forward. inside," Leonard told Battista. New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen says receiving high draft grades on the team's 2023 NFL Draft class doesn't win games in April. That is not all the tragedy that Leonard has had to deal with, though. In this article, we have covered all the available details about Darius brothers. After the 2010 season, he became a free agent. Ill be playing Set it Off all day for ya man! Gradually, they allowed more people to find out about them, but there was a cost. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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