He attended Tennessee State University, where he played college football for the Tigers and studied criminal justice.

[7] He participated in training camp, where he missed multiple practices due to an injury or illness initially described as a headache.

[7] Later that year, Leonard played for the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental Football League in its inaugural season.

[1] Leonard made his CFL debut on July 17, 2015, against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he recorded four receptions for 26 yards and two touchdowns.

[17] On the same day he was released by the Roughriders, Leonard signed a contract with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

[18] The move reunited him with head coach and general manager Chris Jones who successfully converted him to a defensive lineman in 2016.

He played in all 18 regular season games where he recorded 45 defensive tackles, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

[19] On February 15, 2012, Leonard was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic battery after an alleged altercation with a woman he had been dating for 17 months.