DLM Ryan Leonard

[Stallion]

Here 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.

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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]

[Stallion]

Here's a story after winning Player of the Week Award from 2005 Season


By BRANDON GEORGE / The Dallas Morning News


What he did: Leonard was dominant on both sides of the ball in Friday's 45-0 District 9-4A victory over Frisco, but he really made an impression on the defensive line. Leonard disrupted Frisco's offense by often pressuring the quarterback. He helped the defense earn its third shutout of the season. Hebron (8-0, 5-0 9-4A) hasn't allowed more than 12 points in any of its games. Hebron held Frisco to 51 yards (nine rushing) and four first downs. Leonard also started on the offensive line and graded out at 95 percent.


Ryan Leonard The stats: Eight tackles (two for losses), three sacks, a pass break- up, two quarterback pressures.

Who is he? A 6-0, 270-pound senior offensive left tackle and defensive end.

He said it: "I was working on my pass rush a lot this week be- cause all they do is pass. I thought I did a good job. I was getting off the ball real fast and getting a good push. We ran a lot of stunts against them, and I came clean a couple of times. We need a lot of pressure for this defense to work, and our entire line did a good job with that."

Coach said it: "Defensively, he just completely dominated the game. Every game, he comes up with that big play. Wherever we play him, he causes a lot of problems for the other team." Hebron's Brian Brazil

Did you know? For the season, has 50 tackles (12 for losses), 11 sacks and a blocked kick. ... A third-year starter on offensive line; this is first season as starter on defense. He played some on defense his first two seasons on varsity. ... Lived in Cleveland from the fourth through sixth grades and moved back to this area as a seventh-grader. ... Has a step- brother and stepsister who live in England. His stepfather is from England. ... Was a varsity wrestler last season, finishing third in district at 275 pounds.

[CalallenStang]

Did I miss something? Are we recruiting Leonard? Did he sign with us? Someone else?

He's going to be a great player at the college level. In 2005, our offense was rolling over teams left and right (including 31 points against a Brenham team that was LOADED with D-1 talent) but Hebron, and especially Ryan Leonard, just shut us down. HARD HITTER and faster than you would think a guy of his size would be. He can run down a QB, I saw him do it against us...knocked our starter out of the game twice when he caught him (and our starter wasn't slow).

Another Hebron player I'd be interested in is Max Blue (is he going anywhere)?

[Stallion]

he's already enrolled-spent last year at the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School. BTW I also saw a blog that said NTSU offered last year and wanted him when he transferred. I believe SMU did offer last year at the very end but he chose to go to Navy-as I've mentioned both the Air Force and Naval Academies use these prep schools as a way of remaing competitive since they are not limited by the 25/85 scholarship limitations. They can give appointments from 75-80 players and place some at the prep school

[CalallenStang]

he's already enrolled-spent last year at the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School. BTW I also saw a blog that said NTSU offered last year and wanted him when he transferred. I believe SMU did offer last year at the very end but he chose to go to Navy-as I've mentioned both the Air Force and Naval Academies use these schools as a way of retaining competitive since they are not limited by the 25/85 scholarship limitations.

Navy's getting a good one!

[50's PONY]

He is enrolled at SMU

[SApony]

Does this kid have to sit out a year before he is eligible?

[CalallenStang]

He is enrolled at SMU

Well then we're getting a good one! I must not be reading between the lines too good today

[PonyPride]

Met him this afternoon. Looks exceptionally strong.

[CalallenStang]

Met him this afternoon. Looks exceptionally strong.

When we played him he was easily the strongest guy on the field. Was a man amongst boys, and that was the state championship game so you know there was other talent out there as well.

[Ponymon]

This is one of the two commitments that haven't been announced as yet. Since he is already been enrolled you think that they would say something about it in the paper and change his bio on Rivals. I also have heard that we have another commitment from a defensive back named D.J. Emerson from Brookshire Royal who, reportedly, runs a 4.4 forty. I haven't seen any confirmation on this yet, however. He might be a current recruit or, possibly, a greyshirt.

[Lotus]

Does this kid have to sit out a year before he is eligible?

No. By going to the Naval Academy Prep School, which plays against a lot of junior colleges and "B" teams from some real colleges, he basically has a year of college experience under his belt, and still has five years to play four seasons.

[SApony]

What was he rated by Rivals coming out of high school?

[Stallion]

flew under their radar completely. They have him in the Database but no stories.

[Me]

I've posted about this kid before. I work for the man who was the defensive coordinator at Hebron up until this year when he became the head coach at the school I'm at. He as talked to me about Ryan a lot and I have seen a lot of film on the kid and this is a very good signing for SMU. Coach McBride raves about him and thinks the world of this kid as a player and a young man. If Joe McBride gives his endorsement then that is all I need.