College Career
Leonard committed to play football at Rutgers University in August of 2001. As a high school senior he was a 3-star (out of 5) recruit, according to Rivals.com and had scholarship offers from several prominent schools including Penn State University and Syracuse University. In high school, he was projected to play linebacker at the next level. Leonard largely credits his brother, Nate Leonard, for why he chose Rutgers. Nate was also recruited to play football in college before injuring his knee. Unlike other Big East and ACC teams who stopped recruiting him as a collegiate football player due to his injury, Rutgers stayed loyal to Nate. Brian valued Rutgers' loyalty to his brother and ultimately decided to play football at Rutgers.
Leonard became well-known for hurdling over would-be tacklers. In 2006, he was promoted as a Heisman Trophy candidate. A video clip of Leonard, concluding with the slogan "Leonard for Heisman," was aired on the NBC Astrovision screen in New York City’s Times Square. Despite being acknowledged as a Heisman candidate, Leonard elected to take on a diminished role as a blocker and allow Ray Rice to become a star. He was also named starting fullback on the 2007 Senior Bowl North Squad, where he finished with 16 yards rushing and 13 yards receiving, 3rd overall on the team in total yardage. Leonard is also popularly known as "Drew Leonard" among close friends.
- "He's a very, very underrated player...he's the best running back I've played against since I've been in college." (This includes Kevin Jones, Julius Jones, Walter Reyes and Darius Walker) "That combination of power and speed is amazing. Some of the runs he makes in the open field, he can cut like a tailback. He jumps over safeties when they try and cut him, but then he runs over linebackers and defensive linemen. His combination of power and speed just makes him the best at what he does."
- - Former Pitt and former Washington Redskins LB H.B. Blades on Brian Leonard
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