FORMER DINOS DEFENSIVE BACK DEANE LEONARD DOING WELL AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS TRAINING CAMP

Former University of Calgary Dinos defensive back Deane Leonard is making an impression during the first few days of the Los Angeles Chargers training camp in Costa Mesa, CA.

Below is an article I saw on the Chargers website. I have taken the liberty to use parts of it for Neumann’s Notes.

The Chargers selected two corners on the third day of the National Football League Draft Ja’Sir from Wake Forest and Deane Leonard from Ole Miss via the University of Calgary. Early in camp, both are looking like they could be contributors in 2022.

Ups and downs are part of playing cornerback in the NFL, particularly for young players. Getting beat is inevitable. But how a player responds is important. And Leonard and Taylor have responded to their down moments with quality reps.

Leonard has been matched up twice with Jalen Guyton on deep routes. He lost one and won the other. But Leonard has an evident competitive edge and is willing to be physical at the line of scrimmage. He has the size and length to play the type of press-man coverage coach Brandon Staley covets.

“I see those guys just continuing to grow every day,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said of Taylor and Leonard. “We’re pouring a lot at them, but what I’m seeing from these guys is just continuing to step up (to) the plate. They may get a ball caught on them here and there, but they’re responding, they’re bouncing back, and that’s all that you want to see early on as a coach. And we know as the playbook goes in and we stop doing the installs, things will slow down for them. I’m liking how they’re playing fast, and the moment doesn’t feel too big for those guys.”

Leonard is making an impression on the coaches. Friday, he worked as an outside cornerback with the first-team defense and held his own in coverage.

“He’s fast, he’s got good size and he learns well,” Staley said. “He’s not afraid. He will get up there and get on you and play bump-and-run. He’s shown that he can handle it. … We like coaching him, for sure, and he’s got a chance.”

Deane joined the Dinos as a 17-year-old from Notre Dame High School in 2017. During his three-year career with Calgary Leonard played in 23 games finishing with 47 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one quarterback sack and six interceptions. He was a two-time Canada West all-star, two-time U Sport all-Canadian and a vital part of the defense on the Dinos 2019 Vanier Cup championship team. His position coach with the Dinos was Marcello Rapini.

While playing for the Dinos, Deane excelled in the classroom as well as on the field and was a U Sports Academic All-Canadian in the Haskayne School of Business. He continued his academic excellence at Ole Miss earning 2020-21 SEC First-Year Honor Roll recognition and was a Chancellor’s Honor Roll student in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021 studying General Business.

Leonard is the son of former Calgary Stampeders defensive back Kenton Leonard, and Kathy Leonard. The 6’1 195 lbs. Leonard played his youth football in the Calgary Minor Football Association for the Mavericks before entering High School.

The Chargers first pre-season game is Saturday, August 13 in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium against the Los Angeles Rams. The following week the Chargers host the Dallas Cowboys and conclude their pre-season in New Orleans August 27 against the Saints.