Former South Carolina State star Darius Leonard is now officially a member of the Indianapolis Colts. The HBCU Gameday/Protect Your Skull Defensive Player of the Year signed his rookie contract on Sunday. Leonard, drafted in the second round, was the last of the Colts’ 11 draft picks to sign.
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Leonard missed out on OTAs and minicamps with an undisclosed injury, but it seems he’s ready to go for the start of training camp. Colts general manager Chris Ballard said on Friday that Leonard will be “an active participant” when camp begins on Wednesday, July 25. Rookies reported to camp on Sunday, veterans will check in on Wednesday.
“Once we see him (Leonard) kind of in full-mode operating, we can kind of get a handle on where he is physically,” Colts head coach Frank Reich told the media during the offseason program. “I think he’s headed in the right direction.”
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Leonard, 6-2, 234 pounds, started all 43 games he played in at South Carolina State. He holds the school’s all-time record with 394 tackles. He was named all MEAC for three straight seasons (2015-2017). Leonard was also named the Defensive Player of the Year in the MEAC for back-to-back seasons (2016-17).