Southern Illinoise University Athletics

Q&A with MVFC receptions leader Raphael Leonard
11/01/2018 | 11:45:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. —Wide receiver Raphael Leonard has been a leading playmaker since his debut last season at SIU, catching at least one pass in every game and reaching the end zone nine times. With three game remaining in the season, he leads the MVFC in receptions (46) and ranks third in receiving yards (606).
You went from playing at Florida Atlantic, to East Mississippi Community College, to Southern Illinois. Was transitioning to three different schools hectic?
I would say so. When I was leaving FAU, I already knew that I was gonna go JUCO. EMCC was only 30 minutes from my house, so it made the transition much easier. When signing day at EMCC passed, I had not chosen a team to sign with yet, so coming here was kind of a last-minute decision. There were a couple schools from the MVFC and most were FCS schools.
At EMCC, your team was featured on the Netflix series Last Chance U. Did you notice athletes alter their personalities when the cameras were around?
Yeah, I would say a few people. Most of the time, they would just be more outgoing than if the cameras were not around.
What made you ultimately sign with the Salukis?
Coach Hill offered me out of high school but understood that I had other offers from Division I schools. But he said that if anything ever happened, I would still have a scholarship available. When I ended up at EMCC, he offered me again and we kept consistent communication. I trusted him with my remaining years of college and visiting here reminded me of my hometown.
After being at SIU for almost two years now, does it feel like home?
It does, plus this team is the closest-knit group I have been around since being in college. I am glad I came here.
How has the Saluki coaching staff helped you develop in your two seasons here?
Most of them are young coaches and can relate to the players, which is good. It just seems like a family environment here. All of the coaches and their families come for dinner after we are done working out and watching film. The family environment aspect was a part of the school that I liked a lot when I visited here.
What was your reaction to finding out that a play you were involved in during the Ole Miss game became viral on Twitter and Instagram?
What may have been overlooked from that same game was your 70-yard touchdown catch. Do you believe that you are an SEC caliber receiver?
This season, you have caught footballs from multiple quarterbacks. Is there an adjustment period going from one quarterback to the next?
There is an adjustment when you have your timing down with one quarterback and then the next one comes in. Sam Straub and Matt DeSomer are two completely different quarterbacks. DeSomer is more agile and makes plays longer due to his scrambling ability. Us receivers have to learn to adjust and get open after our initial routes so that he can get the ball off when he is scrambling. Straub is more of a pocket passer, which means that we have to adjust to get the timing down since the ball could come out quicker.
You lead the MVFC in receptions. In a conference filled with talented receivers, how does it feel to be atop of that category?
It feels good to lead the conference in catches. I try to build off it and keep getting better. I do not like focusing on preseason awards and focus more on the season, but I do feed off not being recognized during the preseason and work on earning the postseason awards instead.
What area of your game have you improved most since arriving to SIU?
I have focused a lot on blocking. Focusing on my weaknesses was important, since my catch rate has been pretty good. I try to improve on things I am already good at but working on my blocking helps out the running backs and other wide receivers, too.
Trainers noted that you struggled reacting to the ball earlier last season due to your vision. How have you improved that part of your game?
The trainer felt that I was reacting late to the ball. Initially, I didn't think I needed them but I began noticing vision issues in classes. I now wear contacts during practices and games. It has helped during night games where it can become harder to find the ball. I also wear my glasses every now and then when I am struggling to see the board or focus.
Has there been anybody in your life who has motivated or pushed you to be your best?
I did not have any brothers, so I looked up to my first cousin growing up. He lived right down the road, so he was like a brother. My family also motivated me. I had three older sisters and was the youngest in the house, so I was spoiled. I am trying to use football as a way to get further in life and want to give everything back to my family, since they gave so much to me growing up.
What do you think about the future of SIU football?
I am confident about the future of the program. The entire defense and the majority of the offense will be back next year. I feel like the future is really bright. What I am trying to do is show them the right way of doing things such as how to practice and how to compete in games. If they can learn for the other seniors and myself, then the team is going to do big things.
Is your dream to play in the NFL?
My dream is to play for any NFL team after SIU. If I can play and have a successful career in the NFL, then I will be living that dream.
You went from playing at Florida Atlantic, to East Mississippi Community College, to Southern Illinois. Was transitioning to three different schools hectic?
I would say so. When I was leaving FAU, I already knew that I was gonna go JUCO. EMCC was only 30 minutes from my house, so it made the transition much easier. When signing day at EMCC passed, I had not chosen a team to sign with yet, so coming here was kind of a last-minute decision. There were a couple schools from the MVFC and most were FCS schools.
At EMCC, your team was featured on the Netflix series Last Chance U. Did you notice athletes alter their personalities when the cameras were around?
Yeah, I would say a few people. Most of the time, they would just be more outgoing than if the cameras were not around.
What made you ultimately sign with the Salukis?
Coach Hill offered me out of high school but understood that I had other offers from Division I schools. But he said that if anything ever happened, I would still have a scholarship available. When I ended up at EMCC, he offered me again and we kept consistent communication. I trusted him with my remaining years of college and visiting here reminded me of my hometown.
It does, plus this team is the closest-knit group I have been around since being in college. I am glad I came here.
How has the Saluki coaching staff helped you develop in your two seasons here?
Most of them are young coaches and can relate to the players, which is good. It just seems like a family environment here. All of the coaches and their families come for dinner after we are done working out and watching film. The family environment aspect was a part of the school that I liked a lot when I visited here.
What was your reaction to finding out that a play you were involved in during the Ole Miss game became viral on Twitter and Instagram?
When it happened, I tried to celebrate with him and it didn't go as planned. When I was on my way down, I was just thinking about how I need to get up fast and play it off. Nobody really noticed it during the game, but somebody told me afterwards that I was all over Twitter. It was really funny because I did not think anybody would actually see it. From there, I just tried to run with it and do as much as I could with it.Jumping in to the weekend liiike ... #SCNotTop10 pic.twitter.com/ZEgOXca3Sl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 14, 2018
What may have been overlooked from that same game was your 70-yard touchdown catch. Do you believe that you are an SEC caliber receiver?
I definitely believe that I was one of the best wide receivers in Mississippi during my senior year of high school. I at least expected to receive an offer from one of the Division I schools in the state. I always had confidence in myself but understood why I was not viewed as a big-time player. In the Ole Miss game, I wanted to show that I could compete with the best, especially since the SEC is viewed as the best conference in college football.VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: Leonard with the 70yd TD! #RunWithUs pic.twitter.com/q4kkppCptR
— Saluki Football (@SIU_Football) September 8, 2018
This season, you have caught footballs from multiple quarterbacks. Is there an adjustment period going from one quarterback to the next?
There is an adjustment when you have your timing down with one quarterback and then the next one comes in. Sam Straub and Matt DeSomer are two completely different quarterbacks. DeSomer is more agile and makes plays longer due to his scrambling ability. Us receivers have to learn to adjust and get open after our initial routes so that he can get the ball off when he is scrambling. Straub is more of a pocket passer, which means that we have to adjust to get the timing down since the ball could come out quicker.
You lead the MVFC in receptions. In a conference filled with talented receivers, how does it feel to be atop of that category?
It feels good to lead the conference in catches. I try to build off it and keep getting better. I do not like focusing on preseason awards and focus more on the season, but I do feed off not being recognized during the preseason and work on earning the postseason awards instead.
What area of your game have you improved most since arriving to SIU?
I have focused a lot on blocking. Focusing on my weaknesses was important, since my catch rate has been pretty good. I try to improve on things I am already good at but working on my blocking helps out the running backs and other wide receivers, too.
Trainers noted that you struggled reacting to the ball earlier last season due to your vision. How have you improved that part of your game?
The trainer felt that I was reacting late to the ball. Initially, I didn't think I needed them but I began noticing vision issues in classes. I now wear contacts during practices and games. It has helped during night games where it can become harder to find the ball. I also wear my glasses every now and then when I am struggling to see the board or focus.
Has there been anybody in your life who has motivated or pushed you to be your best?
I did not have any brothers, so I looked up to my first cousin growing up. He lived right down the road, so he was like a brother. My family also motivated me. I had three older sisters and was the youngest in the house, so I was spoiled. I am trying to use football as a way to get further in life and want to give everything back to my family, since they gave so much to me growing up.
What do you think about the future of SIU football?
I am confident about the future of the program. The entire defense and the majority of the offense will be back next year. I feel like the future is really bright. What I am trying to do is show them the right way of doing things such as how to practice and how to compete in games. If they can learn for the other seniors and myself, then the team is going to do big things.
Is your dream to play in the NFL?
My dream is to play for any NFL team after SIU. If I can play and have a successful career in the NFL, then I will be living that dream.
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