| April 24, 2005 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 12:21 AM |
WKOW-TV Ch 27 in Madison, WI is reporting that the Buffalo Bills have signed Safety Jim Leonhard. Leonhard has been a mainstay in the Badgers secondary since his sophomore year. The two-time team captain also established himself as one of the premier punt returners in college football. He has proven doubters wrong -- as a player of his size can be successful in a "big man's" game.
Leonhard was a two-time first-team all-state selection who captained the Flambeau High School team as a junior and senior. He was the team MVP as a senior, as he registered eight interceptions and made 120 tackles that year. He was also named a WIAA scholar-athlete.
Leonhard saw limited action in 12 games as a reserve free safety in 2001 at Wisconsin. He finished his first year with 12 tackles. Leonhard was named an All-American as a sophomore, as he led the nation and tied a Big Ten Conference record with 11 interceptions. He set a school record that year with 25 pass deflections and also gained 434 yards with a touchdown on 36 punt returns (12.1 avg.). Leonhard also totaled 99 tackles (70 solos) with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Leonhard again earned All-America honors in 2003. He picked off seven passes for 98 yards in returns, deflected 12 passes and returned 34 punts for 470 yards (13.8 avg.) and two touchdowns. He also registered 98 tackles (63 solos) with a sack and four stops for losses. He was bothered by a left foot injury in 2004, but Leonhard still posted 72 tackles (44 solos) with three interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 35 punt returns for 443 yards in returns (12.7 avg.).
In 51 games, Leonhard started 39 times. He recorded 281 tackles (182 solos) with an 8-yard sack and five stops for losses of 16 yards. Leonhard recovered three fumbles and caused another. His 21 interceptions (251 yards in returns) tied the school career record, first set by Jamar Fletcher from 1998-2000. His 50 passes defensed (21 interceptions, 29 pass deflections) rank No. 3 in school annals behind Fletcher (57) and Mike Echols (1998-2001).
He returned 105 punts for 1,347 yards (12.8 avg.) and three touchdowns, breaking the school records of 1,007 yards and 12.1-yard average by Nick Davis (1998-2001). Only Ira Matthews (four, 1975-78) had more punts returned for touchdowns in Wisconsin history. His 1,347 yards also set a Big Ten career record.
Positives: Short, but has a good body structure with solid chest and arm muscle tone, some thickness in his thighs and calves and a frame that can carry some additional bulk … Durable athlete who never missed a game due to injuries, playing at the end of 2002 with a fractured right thumb and throughout the second half of 2004 with a stress fracture in his left foot … Plays with decent quickness and good agility … Smart and active tackler who anticipates, reads and reacts well to the play … Shows a quick turn coming out of his backpedal … Very effective zone defender who makes a sharp break on the ball and does a good job of reading the receiver's moves … Has the hand/eye coordination to track the ball in flight and above-average leaping ability … Gets a good jump on the ball and makes proper body adjustments working in space … Natural hands catcher who shows patience waiting for blocks to develop as a returner … Stays low in his pads and drives hard with his legs when making the tackle … Shows a good feel to string plays out and gives solid effort in run support … Plays faster than his timed speed … One intangible you can not measure is his heart, but it is a big one … Everyone on the staff and squad loves this kid and he has been a good mentor for the younger players.
Negatives: Can add some more weight to his frame, but it is approaching maximum growth potential … Lacks the top-end speed to be effective in man coverage, as he is mismatched vs. the speedy receivers on deep routes … Has limited range and catch-up speed … Aggressive hitter, but a lack of size will see bigger backs break his arm tackles.
2002 -- Suffered a fractured right thumb vs. Minnesota (Nov. 23), but did not miss any games.
2004 -- Played the second half of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. The injury was discovered in an MRI after the Outback Bowl and his foot was placed in a boot for three months, preventing him from working out at the Combine.
Campus: 4.58 in the 40-yard dash … 325-pound bench press … 430-pound squat … 265-pound power clean … 36½-inch vertical jump … Left-handed … Wears contacts. Combine: 29¾-inch arm length … 9¼-inch hands … Bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times.
Attended Flambeau (Tony, Wis.) High School, playing football for coach Darrell Gago … Two-time first-team all-state selection who captained the team as a junior and senior … Team MVP as a senior … Registered eight interceptions and made 120 tackles as a senior … Was also a WIAA scholar-athlete.
Kinesiology major … Son of Don Leonhard … Born Oct. 27, 1982 … Resides in Tony, Wis.