Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. They left the hospital early the next morning, believing Keivonte was going to survive. "It changed our whole life, our relationship. On the eve of his 27th birthday, Shaquille Leonard has decided to make a distinct change entering his fifth NFL season. I called her to the middle of the field," he said. inside," Leonard told Battista. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. [18] For his performance, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. 6 pick. 2 brothers in prison, another killed. it inside.". On January 5, 2019, Leonard started in his first career playoff game and recorded 13 combined tackles (five solo) and broke up a pass attempt during a 217 victory at the Houston Texans in the AFC Wildcard Game. After four full seasons in the NFL, the linebacker will be known as Shaquille instead of Darius.. Domonique Foxworth is a senior writer at Andscape. The 25-year-old South Carolina native [36] Your team will love these Sloppy Joes 5 Ways! In 10 games in 2017, Leonard had 113 total tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble, according to South Carolina States team site. Anger. In 2011, an interracial relationship was still taboo in their tiny Southern town. 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. 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. "That's what had been eating me This is mostly accomplished by suppressing grief, which he says hed rather do than burden others. Growing up they watched a lot of Walker, Texas Ranger for him and pro wrestling for me, Leonard says. 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). He also knows from experience the game he loves can be taken away from him in one play. 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. "I didn't think we would go up there and do a ceremony. And I was like, 'It's a day late.' Introduction. It's the season of giving. Kayla rode with Darius to see Keivonte. When Mia arrived in March, she changed everything. Do check my articles through Players Bio. [27], The Indianapolis Colts finished second in the AFC South with a 106 record and earned a playoff berth. He tackled some tough questions from New York Post columnist Steve Serby. Writing has always been like therapy to me. His play ultimately helped him earn First-Team All-Pro honors. Anthony played in the NFL for four years despite being told he would make the same mistakes as his elder brothers and get arrested. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I didnt want to catch him or hear anybody tell me that they were there because if they were there, they knew what it was going to be like when they got home.. "She turned me down at first. It's amazing that two brothers from a very small town, [38] "We took a picture together and we were right beside each other. Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. In middle school, two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. He was hit from behind and knocked cold, dying after a brief stay in the hospital. Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. These Maple Bacon Beer Burgers will have your whole team saying, "Bring on the beef!" That would have been a moment of me trying to steer him in the right direction. "Get ready to rock 'n' roll when time comes.". "The way I'm going, I'm very happy," Leonard said. I can't wait to have a few more and give her some brothers and sisters.". I'm still in the early stages of my writing career, but it's been a fun ride so far! '", "I got officially married in some South Carolina State shorts, a Colts t-shirt, and some Jordan retros," he laughed. If you want to know more about Darius, follow him on his Instagram and Twitter. The big house in the middle of nowhere. Despite missing three games due to injury, Leonard had a team-leading 121 tackles including 71 solos, six tackles for loss, five sacks, six passes defended, five interceptions, and two forced fumbles. The loss of his brother still weighs on Leonard. Trouble was easy to find in Lake View, South Carolina, a town with a population of less than 800. Leaving a school that has 11 state football titles, without winning that year, was a hurtful feeling, Leonard says. I get emotional because it goes back to how he was raised and the man hes become.. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard's picture-perfect 'Peanut Punch' forces fumble and turnover. Beginning at 9 a.m. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. "The awareness is so critical," brother, Keivonte Waters, in 2012. A little more than a decade later, another brother was found guilty of accessory to murder. Darius Leonard (@dsleon45) October 15, 2019. . "I talked trash to her. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sign up now: It's free to play! With NFL+, stay connected throughout the rest of the NFL offseason with special content from Training Camp, Hall of Fame, and more! Colts star Darius Leonards first two years in the league have been among the best debuts ever by a linebacker. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . It was like, 'Wow. The family wasnt well off. 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? Leonard isolates himself and cries. A third brother was killed in . In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he got a chance to show Clemson, the national championship runner-up, what it was missing. Her beautiful smile. From then on, Leonard was known as The Maniac. Leonards connection to the nickname went deeper than his teammates had anticipated. 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.. 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. Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. I'm letting the world know, as a Youd rarely see one brother without the other, often in matching clothes. He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. Keivonte was being rushed to the hospital, unconscious after a fight at a club. But before he left for Indianapolis, there was one thing left to do. In the third grade, I wore thong sandals to school, Leonard remembers. Leonard at the home of his in-laws. [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. You can see a smile in his play, like you can hear a smile over the phone. He is known by many as Darius. We were always together. They met in Ms. Susans kindergarten class, playing on the kitchen set. L'Corine Gilchrist (nee Rucker) . [31] In Week 13 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard recorded 12 tackles and sacked Ryan Tannehill twice in the 3117 loss. [1], Leonard led SCSU in tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2014, compiling 86, 14 for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. Leonard has gone from being an unknown guy while coming into the NFL draft to becoming one of the best linebackers in the league. Or he was playing baseball or at home playing cards with friends. Leonard discussed the importance of The team released him on February 26, 2009. Even now, on the bad days, the routine is always the same. "I knew I needed help, and for a long time, I Leonards life, however, hasnt always been great. "I always wanted a big wedding and he knew I wanted a big wedding. INDIANAPOLIS -- It started out as a pause on the phone. The Lifelong Love Story Of Darius And Kayla Leonard From childhood classmates to teenage sweethearts, Mr. and Mrs., and mom and dad - Darius and Kayla Leonard have a love story that spans. [24] Leonard was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for December. He became a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, and did play at Death Valley as an opponent. [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. He had 19 tackles and a blocked field goal in a 59-0 loss to Clemson in 2016. Lolo Jones Sister- Brother James Jones Jr, Who Is Elisavet Tsitsipas? Leonard returned to his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina, during the teams bye week. His NFL aspirations were alive and well. It was a matter of getting by and adapting. A good partner brings out the best in you. Shaquille is my middle name that Ive went by since 95. 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. To Leonard, that meant his professional football dreams were over before they began. His wife, Kayla, is the only person who sees that he occasionally aches from the trauma of his past. That's what the Colts and Red Gold have done for more than a decade - and it's something they look forward to doing for years to come. 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. With a lifetime of memories behind them and a lifetime before them, the story of Darius and Kayla is many chapters long. He ranked in the nations top 15 in solo tackles. "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. In the sixth grade, Leonard took his shot at lunch. If I don't find help, There's no 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. Another brother of his, Keivonte Waters, died in 2012 after an altercation at a club, according to ESPN. Anthony Waters is a former American football linebacker. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. The first day back to school after Christmas was always rough. And she was like, 'I've got a present for you.' Kayla spotted him drifting from the celebration, so she followed him to the back of the room. Most figured Darius Leonard was far too skinny to do on Sundays what he was doing on Saturdays. The phenomenon comes from an interaction between two stars one living, one dead. "Just the way he looks at her - it's crazy. So, he didn't waste any time. 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. 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. ", "She's stuck beside me through thick and thin. [28], In Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans, Leonard made 10 tackles and one sack on Marcus Mariota as the Colts won 1917. emotions, that's helping me out rather than keeping my emotions He avoided those problems because he always wanted to be different in every aspect, said Chris Ford, one of Leonards closest childhood friends. Kayla played softball for Claflin University. I love, love it that he still talks to them, Lynette Waters said. He would run through the early morning gloom to the weight room at his high school. So the temptation and peer pressure was always present. 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. Year explained he had a minor disagreement with his brother before Hes not going to forget about them. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. Who Is Angelia Jefferson? is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. Eventually, he got the courage to ask her out. I wanted it to be official that she was my wife. They called me Two Dollars because thats how much they cost. Leonard answered with more jokes rather than show how much it hurt. She never left my side through any moment; she made sure that I had absolutely anything that I needed.. Two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. "My senior day, all eyes were supposed to be on me - so it was definitely a great distraction. And then in the 11th grade, she came back begging. It was crazy," she said. Jeffrey Brown/Icon . Darius' older brothers Charlie and Cody Waters are incarcerated. [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. [3] Leonard finished the season with 124 tackles, 1412 tackles for loss, 312 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and four forced fumbles. One brother, Anthony, also played in the NFL. 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. A few months later, Kayla had a surprise for Darius - she was expecting. The video captured hearts - a young football player tearfully reading a thank you letter to his coach. Stefanos Tsitsipas Sister- Brother Petros Cameron Norrie Hair Transformation: Style And Color Before And Who Are Alvaro, Sergio And Jaime Alcaraz? "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. On April 15, 2009, Waters committed to the New Orleans Saints. Anthony Devonne Waters was born on July 25, 1985, in Dillon, South Carolina, to his single mother, Lynette Waters. What got him through many of those childhood trials was his relationship with Keivonte. "Her beautiful eyes," he said. extremely close took a long-term toll on his mental health. He returned in Week 4, and suffered a concussion and broken nose in the game, missing the next three games. Every Friday that he didnt have a game, Leonard was on the sideline with Lake View. Keep flying high and watching over me! 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. He is a recovering pro athlete and superficial intellectual. If theres music playing at practices or games, he is dancing. Charlie writes his brother a letter every game. "That's better than keeping There is a diamond-studded 53 hanging from one of a few gold chains. Similarly, his second oldest brother, Cody Waters, is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. professional football player, a linebacker, one of the most He eventually qualified, but by then he had already decided to attend South Carolina State University, a Football Championship Subdivision school. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an "accessory at a wrong place, wrong time," ESPN also reported. After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. Leonard waited and waited for a scholarship offer to come after attending football camp there before his junior and senior years. "It felt unreal - him being on the phone and watching it on TV. 'I'll give it one last whirl.'". 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. Now Darius Leonard is the best rookie in football. "Everybody just grew up together," Kayla said. Even though his brothers are in prison, he communicates with them frequently. I definitely knew she was in it for all the right reasons. 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.. I had my college friends there. with other NFL players, including the Atlanta Falcons' Hayden Hurst Leonard explained that his family has always called him Shaquille growing up. He was a big clown, Leonard says, smiling. Wagner signed a 3 year for 54 million dollar deal with 40 million in . Leonard is still recovering from back surgery he underwent on June 7. "Every time I say something, her eyes just get real big. two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder. his death during a fight at a club. Did Darius Leonard change his name to Shaquille? But I didnt have to because he had a good head on his shoulders and knew that wasnt the way to go.. weight. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. She returned to teach at Lake View, but Darius had one more season of eligibility. He was ranked as the sixth best inside linebacker prospect in the draft by NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr. and was ranked the seventh best outside linebacker by DraftScout.com. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. So much joy - I was definitely happy. Leonard appeared on the July 12, 2020 episode of Celebrity Family Feud in which the NFL rising stars took on retired NFL Hall of Famers, which included players such as Michael Irvin and Cris Carter. Leonard became the highest-paid outside linebacker in the NFL when he signed a five-year, $99.25 million contract with the Colts on August 8, 2021, which included a $52.5 million guaranteed extension. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? 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. At Leonards 2018 draft party, as the family gathered in Myrtle Beach, Colts general manager Chris Ballard called Leonard early in the second round and asked, Do you want to be a Colt? Minutes later, the announcement was made on TV, and the house erupted around Leonard, whose bright smile masked what was rumbling beneath. Darius was severely affected as Keivonte happened to be his closest sibling. He had a little peanut head, she says with a laugh. Q: You lost one brothe This article was last updated by Krisha Shrestha on April 26, 2023. By his senior year, Darius' journey to the NFL had begun. I just wanted to hug him, and say, Im sorry. . (He somehow was not a Pro Bowl selection.) While Darius trained for the NFL Draft in Tampa, Kayla supported him back home working as a ninth grade algebra teacher. And I should have known something because she was recording me. God let my child live his dream, whether or not he buys me nothing. Headed into this season, the Colts were a trendy Super Bowl pick. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. But Colts linebacker Darius Leonard and his wife, Kayla, have known each other for as far back as they can remember. The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically. Keivante and Darius were born a year apart and shared a bedroom growing up. She was the flower girl in her mom and dad's real wedding - the one Kayla dreamed about growing up. cornish guardian classifieds,
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