FORMER UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DEFENSIVE BACK MAKES LOS ANGELES CHARGERS 53 MAN ROSTER

Deane Leonard is now the second University of Calgary Dinos football player to make an active National Football League roster. Things also are about to change for him though.

“I am still paying his cell phone bill, now that he has made it (NFL) he can pay,” stated his proud father Kenton Leonard, a former Canadian Football League player with the Calgary Stampeders for seven seasons. The Chargers announced their 53 player roster earlier this afternoon in accordance with NFL regulations.

The 22-year-old Leonard was the first player that played for the Dinos to be selected in the NFL Draft. The 6’, 195 lbs. defensive back was a 7th round selection of the Chargers in the 2022 Draft. He spent three seasons (2017 to 2019) with the Dinos before transferring to the University of Mississippi of the South East Conference for his final years of eligibility as COVID 19 restrictions prevented football from occurring at the U Sports level.

During his tenure with the Dinos Deane emerged as an elite shutdown corner in U Sports football. Deane joined the Dinos as a 17-year-old from Notre Dame High School in 2017. He is a product of the Calgary Mavericks program of the Calgary Minor Football Association. Leonard played in 23 games finishing with 47 tackles, one tackle for a loss, one quarterback sack and six interceptions in three seasons for the Dinos. 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.

“We are extremely pleased and proud for Deane and his family. He was a fabulous player and person when he was with our program. He has worked very hard to achieve this and we wish him all the best” stated University of Calgary Dinos Head Coach Wayne Harris.

Leonard had an outstanding training camp with the Chargers seeing action in the first two preseason games before being held out of the final pre-season game due to a minor injury. When he sees his first action for the Chargers in the NFL regular season, he will follow offensive tackle Dan Federkeil as second Dino to see action in a regular season NFL contest. Federkeil, signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts, spending three seasons on their active roster. He was a member of their 2006 Super Bowl XLI Championship team.

Leonard not only exceled on the football field but also in the classroom earning U Sports Academic All-Canadian status each year with the Dinos in Haskayne School of Business and graduated last year with a major in Finance. He also earned academic honors while at Ole Miss.

The Chargers first regular season game will be at SOFI Stadium on September 11 when they host the Las Vegas Raiders.