DLM Ryan Leonard
Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:30 pmHere is an article I posted from last year when SMU was recruiting Leonard
By GREG RIDDLE / The Dallas Morning News
Darrell Davis wasn't scared of Ryan Leonard when they first met on the football field. But a lot of others were.
"Nobody really wanted to go against him. I'd be the only one," Davis said. "He was real big and mean."
That was in first grade. Eleven years later, nothing has changed for a player who's called "Big Country."
Leonard is now a 6-0, 270-pound senior who terrorizes opponents as a starting offensive tackle and defensive end for Hebron. Teammates say Leonard is Hebron's hardest hitter, and he's had quarterbacks running for their lives all season.
High Schools
Highland Park poised to shed a big wait
Early blitz on seats at title game irks many HP fans
Hebron senior shows he controls the line
Playoff pairings
Football Leaderboard
Stadium finder
More high school football
Leonard has 17 sacks – a school record – and he has led Hebron (14-0) to Saturday's Class 4A Division II state semifinal showdown with Wolfforth Frenship (13-1). It's Hebron's first state semifinal berth.
"He's real intense," said Davis, who is Hebron's starting nose guard. "He goes 100 percent, even in practice."
But Leonard can be a gentle giant. Last Friday, the day before Hebron beat Wylie in a regional final, Leonard spent the morning talking to students at a local elementary school.
"I was telling them they need to do their school work," Leonard said. "I asked how many wanted to play sports and told them you have to pass all your classes if you want to take part in those kinds of things."
Leonard's stepfather is from England, and the Hebron star has a stepbrother and stepsister who live in England. But Leonard hasn't made a trip there yet.
"My mom told me the food portions weren't very big over there, so I didn't think I would have that much fun," Leonard said.
Leonard is in his first year as a defensive starter, but only because Hebron's line was so talented last year. Two players who were ahead of Leonard went on to Big 12 schools – Alex Odiari to Oklahoma State and Phillip Jones to Texas Tech. At least one person thinks Leonard has surpassed that dynamic duo.
"He's the best one we've had as a high school defensive lineman," Hebron coach Brian Brazil said. "He's tenacious. He just loves going to make plays."
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Hebron's Ryan Leonard (79) has bottled up opposing running backs such as Keller Central's Danzell Fortson all season.
Leonard has started at offensive tackle since he was a sophomore, and he was a second-team all-district pick at that position last year. But this year, what little rest he gets during a game comes on offense.
"He is good on the offensive line, but we can still survive some on offense if he doesn't play all the time," Brazil said. "But we've got to have him out there all the time on defense. He's just so dominant."
The agile Leonard has 82 tackles, including 25 for a loss, for a defense that allows an average of 10.7 points per game. But he said Navy, Kansas and Colorado are the only Division I-A schools that have expressed interest in him. Brazil said college recruiters are making a mistake if they think Leonard's too short.
"There are these kids who are 6-4 and they're 275 and they make an incredible play, but then they take seven or eight plays off," Brazil said. "Ryan just doesn't take plays off. He's always going hard.
"Not one school would regret taking him. ... It's just a matter of someone giving him an opportunity."
E-mail [email protected]
By GREG RIDDLE / The Dallas Morning News
Darrell Davis wasn't scared of Ryan Leonard when they first met on the football field. But a lot of others were.
"Nobody really wanted to go against him. I'd be the only one," Davis said. "He was real big and mean."
That was in first grade. Eleven years later, nothing has changed for a player who's called "Big Country."
Leonard is now a 6-0, 270-pound senior who terrorizes opponents as a starting offensive tackle and defensive end for Hebron. Teammates say Leonard is Hebron's hardest hitter, and he's had quarterbacks running for their lives all season.
High Schools
Highland Park poised to shed a big wait
Early blitz on seats at title game irks many HP fans
Hebron senior shows he controls the line
Playoff pairings
Football Leaderboard
Stadium finder
More high school football
Leonard has 17 sacks – a school record – and he has led Hebron (14-0) to Saturday's Class 4A Division II state semifinal showdown with Wolfforth Frenship (13-1). It's Hebron's first state semifinal berth.
"He's real intense," said Davis, who is Hebron's starting nose guard. "He goes 100 percent, even in practice."
But Leonard can be a gentle giant. Last Friday, the day before Hebron beat Wylie in a regional final, Leonard spent the morning talking to students at a local elementary school.
"I was telling them they need to do their school work," Leonard said. "I asked how many wanted to play sports and told them you have to pass all your classes if you want to take part in those kinds of things."
Leonard's stepfather is from England, and the Hebron star has a stepbrother and stepsister who live in England. But Leonard hasn't made a trip there yet.
"My mom told me the food portions weren't very big over there, so I didn't think I would have that much fun," Leonard said.
Leonard is in his first year as a defensive starter, but only because Hebron's line was so talented last year. Two players who were ahead of Leonard went on to Big 12 schools – Alex Odiari to Oklahoma State and Phillip Jones to Texas Tech. At least one person thinks Leonard has surpassed that dynamic duo.
"He's the best one we've had as a high school defensive lineman," Hebron coach Brian Brazil said. "He's tenacious. He just loves going to make plays."
VERNON BRYANT/DMN
Hebron's Ryan Leonard (79) has bottled up opposing running backs such as Keller Central's Danzell Fortson all season.
Leonard has started at offensive tackle since he was a sophomore, and he was a second-team all-district pick at that position last year. But this year, what little rest he gets during a game comes on offense.
"He is good on the offensive line, but we can still survive some on offense if he doesn't play all the time," Brazil said. "But we've got to have him out there all the time on defense. He's just so dominant."
The agile Leonard has 82 tackles, including 25 for a loss, for a defense that allows an average of 10.7 points per game. But he said Navy, Kansas and Colorado are the only Division I-A schools that have expressed interest in him. Brazil said college recruiters are making a mistake if they think Leonard's too short.
"There are these kids who are 6-4 and they're 275 and they make an incredible play, but then they take seven or eight plays off," Brazil said. "Ryan just doesn't take plays off. He's always going hard.
"Not one school would regret taking him. ... It's just a matter of someone giving him an opportunity."
E-mail [email protected]
