A post shared by Darius Leonard (@mr_highflyer10) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:01am PST. Despite their scarcity, the meals were good. But when his girlfriend, Emma, came into his life - she brought Jake with her. She couldn't come up and see me," he said. Stigma mental health initiative, which will formally launch in May, He was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Having our daughter, him not being there. @kdubb_15 man I miss you and love you more than I've ever expressed while you were here! If you dont have a state title in Lake View, you werent good enough.. Leaving a school that has 11 state football titles, without winning that year, was a hurtful feeling, Leonard says. And they've been inseparable ever since. [38] Two others are in prison. argument at a club in Mullins, South Carolina, in 2012. play college football at Clemson just like his brother. 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). 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. A local news crew, there to capture the hometown mans moment, caught what everyone assumed were tears of joy. That's when it really hit me that I need help. On the eve of his 27th birthday, Shaquille Leonard has decided to make a distinct change entering his fifth NFL season. I had my college friends there. It was a matter of surviving and making do. SC State Grad C/O17! [45], During the following offseason, Leonard had surgery on his back to correct nerves being impinged by his disks. [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. A second round pick by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, all of Darius' dreams were coming true. He has been working as a head football coach at Gaston County School District since July 2014. He has spent his life pushing through it: Pressure bursts pipes or makes diamonds, he says. I talked some good mack daddy. But she rejected him: Apparently, his mack was not strong enough to overcome the size and shape of his head. "She has the most beautiful eyes ever.". Anthonys mother had to work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. His wife, Kayla, is the only person who sees that he occasionally aches from the trauma of his past. Darius Leonard father's name is under review and mother unknown at this time. He would run through the early morning gloom to the weight room at his high school. Growing up in Lake View, South Carolina, a town of less than 800 people - they pretty much knew everyone. Anthony Waters seemed to have a bright NFL future before tearing his ACL in the first game of his senior season at Clemson, Leonard said. 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. 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. So he got off to an early start. extremely close took a long-term toll on his mental health. On Saturday, July 30, NFL Network will present Training Camp: Back Together Saturday. 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. Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard will no longer be called Darius moving forward. I really wish you were here to enjoy this dream that we talked about as kids growing up! Darius played three varsity sports in high school and as a senior led Lake View to the lower state championship. Everyone was related or acquainted with one another, and peer pressure was constant. "We took a picture together and we were right beside each other. Leonard said he's taking on a lead role in the team's Kicking the Sleepless nights, grief counselors, weight lost. He also said that Cody is in prison for being an "accessory at a wrong place, wrong time," ESPN also reported. The big house in the middle of nowhere. On Sunday, August 8th, 2021 the Indianapolis Colts have announced that they have agreed upon terms to sign their young and explosive superstar inside linebacker, Darius Leonard, to a 5 - year contract extension worth up to approximately $98.5 million.This new deal makes Leonard the all - time highest paid inside linebacker in the long and celebrated history of the National . A little more than a decade later, another brother was found guilty of accessory to murder. From the time Darius was born, about a year after Keivonte, they slept in the same room. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. Two of his older brothers were arrested and sentenced to life for murder, while he was in middle school Darius Leonard Height|Weight I'm letting the world know, as a Another brother of his, Keivonte Waters, died in 2012 after an altercation at a club, according to ESPN. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. The first day back to school after Christmas was always rough. However, Clemson was waiting for Leonard to qualify academically before offering him a scholarship. 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 . I currently write articles related to players for Hansikar Technologies. The two-time All-Pro agreed Sunday to a five-year. ", "She was a baller - softball, basketball, and volleyball. However, he wants to be called by his middle name, Shaquille. "I always wanted a big wedding and he knew I wanted a big wedding. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard said he wants to be known by his middle name, Shaquille. He is the guy who stops to change a strangers tire on the side of a country road. Every season, we always talked about who was going to have the most stats," he said. [39] [46], Leonard missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from offseason back surgery. [24] Leonard was awarded the AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for December. Waters was a third-round pick by the Chargers in 2007, but was out of the league by 2010. A few more words, then another pause. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Anthony Waters, brother of Darius Leonard, is a former American football linebacker. you're having mental health issues.". 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. He avoided those problems because he always wanted to be different in every aspect, said Chris Ford, one of Leonards closest childhood friends. Wherever you are, this is how you football!Learn moreabout NFL+. Leonard pushes his daughters stroller through a Lake View High School football game. Unfortunately, Denard passed away on January 8, 2013, at the age of 29. He attended Clemson University for his college studies and started his playing career there. Youre an injury away from not playing this game anymore. He had an impressive game against ACC powerhouse Clemson, totaling 19 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. after going through his own struggles following the death of his On November 11, 2017, Leonard proposed to his girlfriend . Tears. Irsay said. The rise - and rage - of The Maniac twitter comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment One of the last conversations Leonard recalls having with his brother was during that holiday break, after Keivonte had seen Darius argue with Kayla. 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. [42], In Week 15, Leonard had 10 tackles, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and an interception in a 27-17 win over the New England Patriots, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week. God let my child live his dream, whether or not he buys me nothing. He made his return in Week 7 against the Houston Texans. Some nights, I still go to a dark place. When looking at the best defensive players in the NFL today, Darius Leonard has consistently been one each of the past two seasons. That's why they teamed up with Anthem to promote Blue Ticket to Health. But this was also another reminder of the person who wasnt there. As Leonard goes forward with the name he grew up with, expect the same game-changing play he's consistently produced for five seasons. [9][10], The Indianapolis Colts selected Leonard in the second round with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. I would have anxiety attacks. "My kindergarten classmates were my graduating classmates.". He became the first player to rack up at least 125 tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles in a season since Bryan Cox in 1992, according to Colts.com. He and Kayla imagine Keivonte watching Darius play on Sundays and playing with their daughter at home. This article was last updated by Krisha Shrestha on April 26, 2023. The three times Pro Bowl winner maintains a whopping net worth of about $60- $65 million in2023. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00am at his church. Getting drafted, his brother not being there. You never know what you have until its gone, Keivonte warned, reminding Darius to cherish that relationship. Check it out! He has emerged from unthinkable circumstances to become a beacon of joy for everyone in his orbit. [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. The 25-year-old South Carolina native I wanted her to come up with me. I dont take nothing for granted. Three months after she arrived, Mia had a very important job. Its still hard on him, his mother says. "I stopped eating. When the draft came, they rented a house in Myrtle Beach and filled it with family. It's something Colts mascot, Blue, does all year long. interview with Judy Battista of NFL.com released Wednesday. Everybody was either related or knew each other. 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! Darius Leonard Indianapolis Colts Dec 15, 2020 I still can't sleep some nights. The team released him on February 26, 2009. Darius Leonard was raised on a farm bailing hay, raising crops, hunting, fishing, and everything else many southerners do growing up. I called her to the middle of the field," he said. Anthony With His Siblings (Source: Instagram). SCSU all time leading tackler in school history! Leonard faced another obstacle in high school. work many jobs simultaneously to provide for her family. 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.. On July 27, 2022, he tweeted on Twitter that he has been using Shaquille since 1995. Who Is Angelia Jefferson? moving past the stigma related to mental health conditions during an The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. 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! A brothers death would be stressful for any young relationship particularly one with as much pressure as Leonards and Kaylas. [14], Leonard entered training camp slated as the starting weakside linebacker. Steelers general manager Omar Khan garnered a peculiar nickname after his keen decisions throughout the 2023 NFL Draft. At the end of the first quarter, he had tips for Coach King. Anthony Waters is a former American football linebacker. San Diego Chargers selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. We probably hid our relationship for the first two years, Leonard says. [4] He also won the MEAC defensive player of the year award again after the 2017 season. 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." Kayla and his mother say Leonard still hasnt directly dealt with the emotional aftermath of the traumatic loss. [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. Introduction. [7] Leonard's performance at the Senior Bowl immensely helped his draft stock. His gleaming black Benz SUV sits in the driveway, but we are just a few miles from the trailer park where he lived for a couple of years as a kid, one of the 15 or 20 places he called home as a child. The loss of his brother still weighs on Leonard. Depth charts: Offense | Defense I didnt want him to be in that area because I knew what was going on there. Ive got two brothers incarcerated and one deceased. But his path to NFL greatness has been far from easy. Cast aside by his dream school, labeled one of the worst picks in the draft. So far, he's doing a good job of it. He has been called by his middle name, Shaquille, for a long time. 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.". Darius entered the professional arena after the Indianapolis Colts selected him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. "It just shows that you're loved," he said. [36] Kayla, who was attending nearby Claflin University on a softball scholarship, remained encouraging, but Leonard had decided that he was going to be a gym teacher and high school football coach. "It changed our whole life, our relationship. [1], Leonard led SCSU in tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2014, compiling 86, 14 for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. you can't show weakness. He completed the bench press, 40-yard dash, 20-yard dash, and 10-yard dash at the NFL Combine. She talked trash to me. In his career at South Carolina State, he started all 43 games and led the team in tackles in three separate seasons. "That's what had been eating me Im getting emotional, tearing up. They met in Ms. Susans kindergarten class, playing on the kitchen set. "Claflin and South Carolina State have a fence that separates them," she said. I get emotional because it goes back to how he was raised and the man hes become.. It was crazy," she said. When the house was particularly crowded, they shared a bed. 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. Darius Leonard was born on Thursday, July 27, 1995, in South Carolina, United States.His given name is Darius Leonard, and friends just call his Darius. In this article, we have covered all the available details about Darius brothers. [6] On January 27, 2018, Leonard played in the 2018 Senior Bowl and recorded a game-high 14 combined tackles (five solo) as part of Bill O'Brien's North team that defeated the South 4516. Leonard said. Or he was playing baseball or at home playing cards with friends. "I definitely loved that - an athlete who was just as good in their sport as I was in mine.". "I had my childhood friends there. His fathers name is unknown. I wasn't the full energetic guy I would 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. 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. He wanted to wear my shoes out, but he wouldnt let me wear his, Leonard says. Some couples feel like they've known each other forever. Leonard has sadly had to overcome two of his older brothers, Charlie and Cody Waters, being in prison, according to ESPN. Darius Leonard grew up in a small town, Lake View, in Dillon County, South Carolina, United States. aggressive positions on the field, there's still no weakness because Darius was 510 (156 cm) and 135 lbs. I definitely knew she was in it for all the right reasons. Leonards mother, Lynette, turned to counseling. He is a recovering pro athlete and superficial intellectual. Tarik Cohen injured during workout by Steven J. Gaither May 17, 2022 [33][34], Following the season, he was voted into his first Pro Bowl appearance. Katy Kellner Bio: Early Life, Husband, Baby Who Is Angelia Jefferson? Darius' older brothers Charlie and Cody Waters are incarcerated. 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. Darius Leonard is a member of the Indianapolis Colts' football team, an American football player. Shaquille is my middle name that Ive went by since 95. Then, instead, as they were preparing to return to the hospital later that day, Kayla was standing with Darius when they got the call that Keivonte was dead. He is a four-time All-Pro choice (First Team in 2018, 2020 and 2021; Second Team in 2019). Thomas and Darren Colts owner Jim Irsay, another key Visit NFL.com's transaction hub for a daily breakdown. The Tigers were waiting on Leonard to qualify academically. And I should have known something because she was recording me. The drive to joyfully be a relentless tackler, responsive husband and engaged father to his 9-month-old daughter, Mia, is fueled by the memory of his brother. For the Waters brothers, growing up in a small town with less than 800 people was challenging. When he was 2 years old, one of his brothers was convicted of murder and incarcerated. I wasn't happy. Leonard and Keivonte were born only a year apart. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Just days later, that relationship would be what got Leonard through Keivontes death. way I'm 19, 20 years old feeling this way, no way I should be getting Colts general manager Chris Ballard was looking for a player who could spearhead their transition to a 4-3 defense that emphasized speed, and he became so set on Leonard's potential he passed on Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith to take guard Quenton Nelson with the No. They started dating during their junior year. The fifth of six boys, Indianapolis Colts linebacker Leonard is the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. And she was like, 'I've got a present for you.' During the time of writing, he maintains a career stat of 61 games played, 15 sacks, 17 forced fumbles, and 549 total tackles. On Sunday, the Colts honored Coach Richard Nelloms and Jayden on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Anthony Waters, Brother of Darius Leonard (Source: Wikipedia). in similar situations who may be trying to bottle up their emotions Leonard discussed the importance of Darius closest sibling, Keivonte, died when Darius was in high school. He tackled some tough questions from New York Post columnist Steve Serby. They know their love can conquer anything. Every Friday that he didnt have a game, Leonard was on the sideline with Lake View. The 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Their efforts will officially begin He was hit from behind and knocked cold, dying after a brief stay in the hospital. In his rookie season, Leonard showed enormous potential. 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. there is only one other way this could possibly go.". "Just the way he looks at her - it's crazy. The AFC South should still be relatively weak for another year (assuming the Houston Texans trade Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence doesn't take too big a leap), so the Colts could easily find themselves in the exact same position again this time next year He was with us every day at practice, King says. Spr 15. Darius Leonard grew up wanting to follow in his brother's footsteps. Charlie is in prison for a murder case that happened in 1997, according to Leonard. I was giving her a hard time. Most figured Darius Leonard was far too skinny to do on Sundays what he was doing on Saturdays. "Everybody just grew up together," Kayla said. 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. Leonard proved them wrong, though, as he absolutely dominated in his rookie season. "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. They say time usually heals but I havent done much healing! Similarly, his second oldest brother, Cody Waters, is in jail, awaiting trial for alleged murder. He eventually qualified, but by then he had already decided to attend South Carolina State University, a Football Championship Subdivision school. Leonard is one of nine children five brothers, three sisters. and the Las Vegas Raiders' Solomon I also knew that was the route I didnt want to go. They would just stop talking to me and stop giving me rides.. The scouts gradually began to take notice of him. We were only 1 year apart so you can guess how close we were! He played college football at South Carolina State and was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Colts. "Get ready to rock 'n' roll when time comes.". "And when she got her job, she was taking care of me. Darius's other brother Keivonte died in 2012 due to injuries sustained in a bar fight. Daryl King, their high school coach, would frequently phone Waters. [17] On September 16, 2018, Leonard collected a season-high 19 combined tackles (15 solo) and made his first career sack on Redskins' quarterback Alex Smith during a 219 win at the Washington Redskins. Along with friends and family, many of Darius' teammates and former teammates were in attendance. Theres always something that happens in his life where he thinks about his brother, and that triggers different emotions, she says. 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. Only one school had an open spot: South Carolina State University. He said Cody is in prison because he was an accessory at a wrong place, wrong time.. I just wanted to hug him, and say, Im sorry. . 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. inside," Leonard told Battista. Leonard saved his best for last, as he posted career highs in total tackles (113) and sacks (812) as a senior while picking off two more passes and forcing one fumble. 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. [12] Leonard was the sixth linebacker taken in the draft. Leonard was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance. Leonard explained that his family has always called him Shaquille growing up. [3] Leonard finished the season with 124 tackles, 1412 tackles for loss, 312 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and four 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. I wanted to put them on notice.. @dsleon45. 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. In 2016, as a redshirt junior, he got a chance to show Clemson, the national championship runner-up, what it was missing. Nor is it an outlet to release the emotions he has bottled up. Then I opened the box and I went crazy. brother, Keivonte Waters, in 2012. Winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, his brother not being there. He and his fiancee had a daughter in 2019. "That's better than keeping He returned to the Saints on December 9, 2009, after spending eight weeks with the Bills practice squad. The Colts still managed to start 5-2 but then lost five of six. I forget everything I was going to say. In 2011, an interracial relationship was still taboo in their tiny Southern town. Ballard believed his hidden gem would still be on the board when the Colts picked in the second round. As Leonards junior season in college ended, Lake Views playoff run was just beginning. 5 letter words containing t o n, st vincent de paul scholarship,