CALGARY – Deane Leonard is the latest former University of Calgary Dinos football player to make an NFL squad after officially being named to the initial 53-man roster for the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Leonard became the first Dino and just the 13th player in U SPORTS history to be selected in the NFL Draft, hearing his name called by the Chargers in the seventh round back in April.

Now, the Calgary native becomes the third former UCalgary player and the 39th former U SPORTS product to ever crack an active roster spot in the National Football League. 

"It's great that he's been able to reach the highest levels," Dinos head coach Wayne Harris said. "Deane was a great player for us and a great teammate. He had a great career here at the U of C. We're all very proud he's been able to make it into the NFL. When we announced it to the team yesterday, there was a lot of applause and excitement from the players. We're all really happy for him."

Leonard – who finished his collegiate career in the NCAA with Ole Miss – played three seasons at defensive back for the Dinos. In 23 games in the Scarlet & Gold, Leonard racked up 47 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, six interceptions and three touchdowns. He also helped Calgary to its fifth Vanier Cup Championship in 2019.

The two-time All-Canadian was also a standout off the field, earning Academic All-Canadian honour before being named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll during the 2021 season, as well as twice being named to the Chancellor's Honor Roll list at Ole Miss.

On the field at Mississippi, Leonard played in 19 games with the Rebels and finished with 64 total tackles, one TFL and 11 passes defensed.

Leonard is now the third former Dino to make an NFL roster, joining Brian Belway and Daniel Federkeil. Belway played for the Dinos in the early 1980s before getting a shot with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987. Federkeil wore the Scarlet & Gold from 2002-05 before earning a roster spot in Indianapolis, helping the Colts win Super Bowl XLI. Federkeil retired from the NFL in 2009 having played in 27 total games.

-UC-