National Football Foundation

Widely regarded as arguably the nation's top defensive back, Wisconsin's Jim Leonhard has compiled numerous awards and accolades as a player and continues to impress with his leadership and academic excellence.

A CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-America selection in 2003, Leonhard has twice earned Academic All-Conference honors. A Kinesiology major, he is a two-time CoSIDA First Team All-District selection and a regular Dean's List member. 

On the gridiron, few have excelled at Leonhard's level. A former walk-on, he has twice been named First Team All-America and First Team All-Conference. An interception specialist, Leonhard has twice led the BIG TEN in picks, including a conference record-tying and nation-leading 11 interceptions in 2002. That year, he led the BIG TEN with 25 pass break ups and tied for the team lead with 98 tackles en route to being named the team's first sophomore MVP since 1947. A two-time Wisconsin Special Teams Player of the Year, he set a school record with 470 punt return yards in 2003. Considered a top candidate for the 2004 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's top defensive back, Leonhard has over 200 career tackles, 1,000 punt return yards and 20 interceptions. 

A two-time team captain, Leonhard has participated in several community service projects, including a Kiwanis Youth Skate, visits to the University of Wisconsin Hospital, Habitat-for-Humanity and Hammer with a Heart. Following the 2005 NFL Draft, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills, seeing limited time in his three seasons on the team. Leonhard registered 72 total tackles and two interceptions.

Leonhard signed with the Baltimore Ravens prior to the 2008 season and started 13 games, accumulating 69 total tackles and returning 20 punts for 232 yards. In 2009, he signed with the New York Jets and started 40 games for the Jets from 2009-11, recording 185 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions. Leonhard also returned 51 punts for 494 yards. He finished his professional career with a season each on the Denver Broncos, the Bills and the Cleveland Browns. 

In 10 NFL seasons, Leonhard made 428 total tackles and intercepted 14 passes.