An All-America fullback at Rutgers, Brian Leonard starred in the Scarlet Knights football renaissance from 2003-06 while collecting academic accolades and becoming a major force in the community. A tenacious blocker and threat to run or catch the ball from the backfield, Leonard scored 45 career touchdowns and finished his career as Rutgers' all-time leader in receptions (207), third in career all-purpose yards (4,643) and third in points scored (272). He earned First-Team All-America honors for three consecutive years from Pro Football Weekly while also becoming a three-time All-Big East selection. A labor and employment relations major, Leonard held a spot on ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District First Team in 2005 while claiming academic all-conference honors three times. A community service stalwart, Leonard played active roles with the American Cancer Society, Read Across America, the Special Olympics and several children's hospitals.
 
A second-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2007, he made starts at fullback and running back his rookie NFL season, accumulating 486 yards from scrimmage. He played eight years in the NFL, including stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints. Leonard currently heads Red Knight Properties, a boutique multi-family and mixed-use real estate investment & property management company in New Jersey, which he co-founded. He also annually hosts a football camp for children and the "Rally at the Alley," a bowling fundraiser that has benefited the Embrace Kids Foundation since 2010. He was inducted into the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.


What did winning the Campbell Trophy mean to you? To Rutgers?
I am not one to boast over individual accolades, but this one really meant a lot to me because of the educational aspect of the award. Athletics, leadership and philanthropy seemed to come natural to me; however, education has always been an uphill battle since childhood. It felt as though I always had to put twice as much effort into my studies to get similar results as my peers. I truly believe this molded my mindset and work ethic at a very young age and enabled me to put my head down and outwork the people around me. The ultimate satisfaction came from knowing I excelled at something that did not come easy to me and that I had to work so hard to achieve, which in turn made this award so special to me. As for Rutgers, being a prestigious academic institution that values education over athletics, I know they were very proud to have this award received by one of their student-athletes.
 
Rutgers is known as the birthplace of college football. How does that resonate with you now versus when you were on campus?
To be honest, I didn't really grasp the magnitude of what that meant when I was on campus at Rutgers. There was a sign in the end zone that always read "The Birthplace of College Football" but it didn't really hit home until I was done playing. When I look back now and have a greater appreciation for history, I take great pride in Rutgers being the place that started the greatest team sport ever.
 
You were the leader of one of the most successful teams in school history, the 2006 squad that finished 11-2. Was there a particular game or moment during the season when you knew that year was going to be special?
I actually really knew Rutgers was going to be special in 2005 when we went to our first bowl game since 1978. This was the ultimate reason I decided to go back for my senior year, and not enter the NFL draft, because I wanted to be part of something special. The makeup of our roster wasn't a bunch of four- and five-star recruits, but rather a group of two- and three-star recruits who had a chip on their shoulder and a hunger to be great. The leaders on the '06 team were the best group of leaders I have ever been around to this day. As a team, we personally took over the discipline aspect so the coaches could focus on coaching. Everyone trusted in the process, believed in one another and held each other accountable. I knew from Day 1 of that '06 season was going to be a season that would go down in history.
 
You were coached by Greg Schiano, who was rehired by Rutgers prior to the 2020 season. What did you enjoy most about playing for him and what makes him such a good fit for the Scarlet Knights program?
Coach Schiano is one of the biggest influences in my life. His ability to develop young men is second to none. He instills character, work ethic, leadership, mental toughness and the ability to fight through adversity into every single one of his players. He would push you past your breaking point, mentally and physically, on a regular basis and, in my opinion, this is the only way to have maximum development and reach your God-given potential. Coach Schiano taught me important life lessons that I carry with me every day. As for his current coaching position, I couldn't be more excited that he is back at Rutgers. He chose to take on a monumental uphill battle, not for the money or notoriety, but because he knows what this program is capable of and wants to make the Rutgers football program proud again. I know the current players are so pumped to play for a coach with a proven track record of success, but more importantly a coach who truly believes in them!
 
You made it to the NFL, but the vast majority of college players do not. What advice would you give to current student-athletes to better prepare themselves for life after football?
I would say to educate yourself consistently throughout your life. If you are not learning, you are not growing as a person. The truth of the matter is, less than 2% of NCAA football players go on to play in the NFL, so you need to be prepared when the next stage of life happens. The transition isn't easy. As a college athlete, the majority of your life is mapped out for you: practices, classes, meals, etc. When it's all over, you're in the driver's seat and you're fully in charge of the direction your life takes. When a new opportunity comes your way, you want to be prepared and in the best position to execute on it. I made a little slogan that I recite to my kids every night. "Knowledge, combined with action, creates opportunities; opportunities combined with execution create health, wealth, and happiness." In my opinion, if you're prepared and execute on the limited opportunities that come your way, you will have less regrets in life and a higher chance of achieving success and happiness.
 
You co-founded Red Knight Properties. Tell us more about it and how you got involved in the real estate business.
I have always been interested in real estate but coming from a football background, where I was an expert to entering a whole new industry where I had minimal knowledge, it was definitely an overwhelming process. I basically went back to being a student. I read a ton of real estate books to educate myself as much as possible, listened to podcasts, and connected with successful people in the industry to see which specific avenue of real estate I wanted to focus on. I decided to focus on multi-family real estate and have since grown my company, with my business partner Anthony Scandariato, to owning and operating over 400 units in less than two years. It definitely has its challenges, however, it's been really rewarding to see how all of our hard work and determination has aided in our success.
 
Was there a particular player whose style you tried to emulate on the field?
I don't recall any specific players I tried to emulate, but I liked watching Tiki Barber, as well as Mike Alstott as a kid, but I kind of created my own style of play on the field.
 
Big East or Big Ten?
Definitely Big Ten. The Big East was great back when I was playing, but in today's world, the level of competition and the prestige of playing in one of the best conferences in the country, you can't be beat!
 
Favorite football movie?
Invincible.
 
Ideal vacation spot?
I love to ski, so put me anywhere in the Rocky Mountains I will be happy. I usually find myself at Vail Mountain in Colorado most of the time though. As for a tropical vacation, I really enjoy Bermuda. In a short 90-minute flight out of Newark, you can be on a tropical island with the most beautiful crystal-clear blue waters that I have ever seen.

Campbell Trophy Q&A Background:
Click here for more information on The William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented Since 1990, which recognizes the nation's top scholar-athlete from the college gridiron. The trophy is a member of the National College Football Awards Association, which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football.

Campbell Q&A Series:
Today's Q&A represents the 15th in a series of Q&A sessions with former winners of the Campbell Trophy:
June 9, 2020: Chris Howard (1990,Air Force)
June 25, 2020: Robert Zatechka (1994,Nebraska)
August 12, 2020: Christian Wilkins (2019,Clemson)
August 26, 2020: Brad Culpepper (1991,Florida)
Sept. 10, 2020: Sam Acho (2010, Texas)
Sept. 24, 2020: Tom Burns (1993, Virginia)
Oct. 7, 2020: Brandon Roberts (2002, Wash U. in St. Louis (Mo.)
Oct. 21, 2020: Zach Terrell (2016, Western Michigan)
Nov. 4, 2020: Joaquin Gonzalez (2001, Miami [FL])
Nov. 18, 2020: Bobby Hoying (1995, Ohio State)
Dec. 2, 2020: Ty Darlington (2015, Oklahoma)
Dec. 18, 2020: Danny Wuerffel (1996, Florida)
Jan. 27, 2021: David Helton (2014, Duke)
March 13, 2021: John Urschel (2013, Penn State)