We thought we knew what love was until she came," Kayla said. The Indianapolis Colts made sure he gets paid like it. No way I should be seeing a heart specialist. instead of seeking out mental health support. is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. She returned to teach at Lake View, but Darius had one more season of eligibility. They know their love can conquer anything. 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. SC State Grad C/O17! But the highlight of his SCSU career came after his final home game, a 33-15 win over Hampton University. The Colts had some wondering what they were thinking when they selected Leonard out of the tiny FCS school in the second round of the 2018 draft. Along with friends and family, many of Darius' teammates and former teammates were in attendance. 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. We were only 1 year apart so you can guess how close we were! Leonard isolates himself and cries. 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. Anthony Waters Coaching At The Lake View High School (Source: Twitter). For the time being, Leonard remains shelved for the start of training camp, but he said the recovery has been going well. Theres always something that happens in his life where he thinks about his brother, and that triggers different emotions, she says. This is mostly accomplished by suppressing grief, which he says hed rather do than burden others. Every time I look at football, I look at life, I know how quick life can change, Leonard said. it inside.". Leonard plays aggressively, but he does it with a bounce best exemplified by his celebration after every sack (and this year, there have been a lot of them). I didnt want him to be in that area because I knew what was going on there. "The awareness is so critical," The Colts still managed to start 5-2 but then lost five of six. Darius Leonard With the Indiana Colts (Source: Stampede Blue) After the NFL draft, Darius signed a four-year contract worth $7.24 million with the Indianapolis Colts on July 23, 2018. Tyrell passed away in 2021 while Dante was killed in a car accident recently. Darius Leonard biography. Clemsons players were a class above all of the Bulldogs except for one. Darius and his brother Anthonys life wasnt always perfect. When I was dirt broke, she was still right beside me. @dsleon45. It physically hurts. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". It's something we talked about, something that I really wanted.". Lake View won its first state title since 2007. It is safe to say that this season has not gone according to plan. His play ultimately helped him earn First-Team All-Pro honors. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. Find your dream seats at our Select-A-Seat event taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium on May 6! Darius wanted to follow his brothers path. However, he never did. Leonard and Kayla graduated the next semester. On April 15, 2009, Waters committed to the New Orleans Saints. But Darius saw what members of his family went through while he was growing up, and he didnt want any part of it.. According to his LinkedIn profile, he worked as an assistant coach at the Bullis School, Potomac, Maryland, from September 2012 to January 2014. My heart aches. By the start of his senior year, Darius was lining up at five positions: running back, wide receiver, linebacker, safety, and punter. 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. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. Explore exclusive inventory, receive complimentary beverages and discounted concessions, and more. The big house in the middle of nowhere. Now Darius Leonard is the best rookie in football. His life changed in one play and I know how quickly this game [can end]. Leonard has the most total All-Pro selections and the most First Team All-Pro selections by a linebacker in Colts history. He missed his rookie season in 2007 and played seven games for the Chargers in 2008. I'll do anything just to see, talk and hug you one more time! [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. Then her voice cracked. [3] Leonard finished the season with 124 tackles, 1412 tackles for loss, 312 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and four forced fumbles. Waters was thinking about that moment last February, when she went into full-sprint mode, the way her son does when hes pursuing a ball carrier. The tiny gray townhouse in Mullins, South Carolina. [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he wants to be known by his middle name, Shaquille. Keivante and Darius were born a year apart and shared a bedroom growing up. . Avoiding trouble where we're from was difficult, especially once you get up in high school. emotions, that's helping me out rather than keeping my emotions Colts star Darius Leonards first two years in the league have been among the best debuts ever by a linebacker. 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. And he knew he wanted to take Kayla with him. Leonard has a tattoo of his brother, Keivonte Walters, who was killed in 2012. [5], On November 20, 2017, it was announced that Leonard had accepted his invitation to play in the 2018 Senior Bowl. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Thomas and Darren 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. alive," Leonard said. [1], Leonard led SCSU in tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2014, compiling 86, 14 for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. I wanted it to be official that she was my wife. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Leonard returned to his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina, during the teams bye week. Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Leonard pushes away sympathy from his family. He received an overall grade of 80.3 from Pro Football Focus, which ranked ninth among all linebackers in 2018. Leonard did two stints at a friends house, sleeping in a living room and a barn. I keep my focus just seeing what my brother went through. Another brother of his, Keivonte Waters, died in 2012 after an altercation at a club, according to ESPN. While the concussion . 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. Year explained he had a minor disagreement with his brother before Keivonte was being rushed to the hospital, unconscious after a fight at a club. 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. He suffered a setback in his back injury leading up to Week 10 and was placed on injured reserve on November 12, 2022.[47]. I just remember him leaning on the car, just crying, Kayla says. 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. 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. 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. He ultimately earned Pro Bowl honors that season too. So I just asked her, 'Will you marry me?'". While Darius trained for the NFL Draft in Tampa, Kayla supported him back home working as a ninth grade algebra teacher. Leonard missed three of those early games in concussion protocol after an injury in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. 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. "I always wanted a big wedding and he knew I wanted a big wedding. But the pictures are funny. Depth charts: Offense | Defense [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. Instead of getting in with the wrong crowd, Leonard was using some wood to make a square rim to play basketball. From $100K on his wedding to $280K on classic cars, find out everything Darius Leonard spent the first million dollars in the NFL on. He doesnt hide his displeasure for not making the Pro Bowl last season. Darius Shaquille Leonard (born July 27, 1995) is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). After Darius junior year of high school, Keivonte left Lake View for Columbia, South Carolina, where he attended Benedict College on a basketball scholarship. How many siblings does Darius Leonard have? Leonard was everywhere, recording a game-high 19 tackles and blocking a field goal. Finally, Leonard says, big schools had come calling even his dream school, Clemson, was offering a spot but he decided to stay at SCSU. Two others are in prison. I love, love it that he still talks to them, Lynette Waters said. 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. [Clemson coach] Dabo Swinney told him after the game that they missed out on not getting him, Ford recalled. He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. 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. Leonard has gone from being an unknown guy while coming into the NFL draft to becoming one of the best linebackers in the league. Leonard responded by leading the NFL in tackles with 163 in 15 games, which was 19 more than the next closest player. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. [33][34], Following the season, he was voted into his first Pro Bowl appearance. Anthonys mother had to work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. That is not all the tragedy that Leonard has had to deal with, though. Her beautiful smile. 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. 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. Darius has 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Leonard discussed the importance of

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