You do not find too many fullbacks that produce on the level of a Brian Leonard. Even as a freshman, Leonard proved to be one of the best fullbacks in the country. During that season, Leonard ran for a career high 880 yards and nine touchdowns, while catching 53 passes for 488 yards and five touchdowns. He didn’t disappoint as a sophomore, again being a tough matchup as a fullback. He ran for 732 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, and added 518 yards and two touchdowns on 61 receptions. As a junior, he became a two time All American, after running for 740 yards and 11 touchdowns, and reeling in 55 passes for 568 yards and six touchdowns. As Rutgers and Ray Rice rose to prominence, Leonard’s numbers dipped as a senior. He still displayed his all around skills, rushing for 379 yards and five touchdowns, and hauling in 36 passes for 288 yards.
Brian Leonard is a rare playmaker at fullback. He is a fantastic runner, and has a lot more natural running ability than most fullbacks. For a fullback, he shows very good speed and athleticism and is not just a short yardage runner. He is a load in those situations though, showing the ability to drag defenders and fight for extra yardage. He’s also an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He is a legitimate weapon with the ball in his hands, as a runner and receiver. Leonard is also a touchdown machine. He just has a nose for the end zone. He has 40 touchdowns in just three seasons at Rutgers.
Leonard is a bit of a RB/FB tweener. His skills are more suited to being an offensive weapon than a true lead blocker. He can block, it’s just not his best trait. Although he timed well, he lacks the speed to be a true lead back at the next level, so he definitely has to play the fullback position. He lost some weight in order to impress people with his speed at the combine, but he will need to get back over 230 to effectively play the FB position.
While fullbacks have not been too popular of late, Leonard is a legitimate weapon that someone will be very happy to have in their offense. He will need to get with a coach that’s willing to utilize his talents, but Leonard has the ability to be a pro bowl fullback at the next level