Colts Pro Bowl linebacker Leonard has a new name: Shaquille
WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Colts’ three-time All-Pro Linebacker Darius Leonard is trying to make a change, and any help on your end is appreciated.
On Tuesday, with Colts training camp move-in underway at Grand Park, Leonard shared that his new preferred name is Shaquille.
Darius Shaquille Leonard is the Colts fan favorite’s legal name, and “Darius” quietly bugged Leonard for years. Ahead of season five, his middle name Shaquille gets a promotion.
“I went by Shaquille my whole life,” Leonard said. “My mom called me Shaquille, my family and friends. I never went by Darius, only in school or if I was in trouble. Once I got into the NFL, that is when people started calling me Darius. I hate it (laughs), but as a rookie I just kind of came in and went with it.”
On the injury front, Leonard’s back surgery in early June will continue to keep him on the sidelines. Leonard did not put a timetable on his return to training camp, and when asked if playing Week 1 was a guarantee, Leonard declined to answer.
“I’m not putting a timeline on it. I think the way I’m going now very happy with the way we’re going. I’m just going to take it day by day. Just hope for the best and just get ready to rock and roll whenever the opportunity comes and just take the field running.”
The good news for the team? Leonard is adamant the procedure to alleviate pain in his back will help eliminate lingering ankle issues that hampered the linebacker significantly this past season.
“It was great news, at first it kind of sucked, going in there and having to have surgery,” Leonard said. “But, the cause of the pain that is going down my leg, now we have found the source of the whole problem. Hopefully, we can come in and just rock and roll.”
Even with the addition of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, Leonard’s remains the top key for new Defensive Coordinator Gus Bradley’s this season.