A.C. Leonard facts for kids
Leonard with the Edmonton Elks in 2023
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| No. 3 – Edmonton Elks | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive lineman Tight end |
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| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | January 15, 1992 Palatka, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 250 lb (113 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Jacksonville (FL) University Christian | ||||||
| College: | Tennessee State | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 2014 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| CFL status: | American | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at CFL.ca | |||||||
AC Leonard (born January 15, 1992) is an American professional gridiron football player. He plays as a defensive lineman for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Earlier in his career, he played as a tight end for the BC Lions in 2015. He switched to playing as a defensive lineman in 2016. AC Leonard went to Tennessee State University, where he played college football for the Tigers. He also studied criminal justice there. Leonard has played in several football leagues, including the NFL, AFL, FXFL, and CFL.
Contents
AC Leonard's Football Journey
Early Football Days
AC Leonard started playing high school football at Jean Ribault High School. He then moved to Interlachen High School. In 2010, he transferred to University Christian School. At University Christian, he mostly played as a tight end. He also played as a linebacker and defensive end.
College Career
In 2011, Leonard played college football for the Florida Gators. He caught eight passes for 99 yards in nine games. A knee injury made him miss three games during his first year. The next year, Leonard transferred to Tennessee State to play for the Tigers. He played there for two years. With the Tigers, he caught 85 passes for 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also played at Palatka High School during his freshman year.
Pro Football Adventures
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 2+3⁄8 in (1.89 m) |
252 lb (114 kg) |
33 in (0.84 m) |
9+1⁄4 in (0.23 m) |
4.50 s | 4.45 s | 7.10 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) |
10 ft 8 in (3.25 m) |
20 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Starting with the Vikings
AC Leonard was eligible for the 2014 NFL draft. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash among tight ends at the NFL scouting combine that year. The Minnesota Vikings signed him as an undrafted free agent. He joined their training camp. However, he was released by the team on August 6, 2014.
Exploring Other Leagues
Later in 2014, Leonard played for the Brooklyn Bolts. This team was part of the Fall Experimental Football League. On December 5, 2014, he joined the New Orleans VooDoo in the Arena Football League.
Joining the BC Lions
In April 2015, Leonard signed with the BC Lions in the CFL. He played his first CFL game on July 17, 2015. In that game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he caught four passes for 26 yards. He also scored two touchdowns.
Back to Other Leagues (Part 2)
After his time with the BC Lions, he played for the Hudson Valley Fort in the FXFL in 2015. On October 16, 2015, Leonard was assigned to the Jacksonville Sharks.
Time with the Roughriders
Leonard signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL in May 2016. He played for two seasons with the Riders. He appeared in 33 games. He was an important part of the team's defense. He made 66 tackles and had 10 quarterback sacks. After the 2017 season, his contract ended, and he became a free agent.
Playing for the Redblacks
On February 13, 2018, Leonard signed a one-year contract with the Ottawa Redblacks. He played in 17 games during his one season with the Redblacks. He contributed with 49 tackles and six quarterback sacks. After the season, his contract was not renewed, and he became a free agent again.
Second Stint with Roughriders
On February 14, 2019, Leonard signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders once more. He played three seasons for the Riders during this time. He appeared in 41 regular season games. He made 118 defensive tackles, 23 sacks, and forced five fumbles. He also had one interception. The Riders released him on January 31, 2023.
With the Edmonton Elks
On the same day he left the Roughriders, Leonard signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). This move brought him back together with coach Chris Jones. Jones had helped him become a defensive lineman in 2016. In 2023, he played in all 18 regular season games. He made 45 defensive tackles, 12 sacks, and forced two fumbles. His contract ended on February 13, 2024, and he became a free agent.
