The Calgary Stampeders have signed American defensive back Richard Leonard after the three-year veteran accepted the team’s qualifying offer during the CFL’s newly introduced negotiation window.

Richard Leonard
Defensive back
College: Florida International
Height: 5.08
Weight: 173
Born: Sept. 2, 1991
Birthplace: Miami, FL
American

Leonard spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, earning CFL all-star honours in 2019 and East Division all-star recognition in 2017 and 2019.

He started all 18 regular-season games at halfback for the Ticats in 2019, registering 55 tackles including two tackles for loss, four interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and eight knockdowns. Leonard started both the Eastern Final and the Grey Cup and recorded nine tackles including one tackle for loss.

In 49 career games, Leonard has 12 interceptions to go with 178 tackles including six tackles for loss, one special-teams tackle, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 31 knockdowns. He has scored two career touchdowns including an 84-yard return after the recovery of a blocked field goal in his CFL debut.

Collegiately, Leonard played four seasons at Florida International. In 49 career games for the Panthers including 32 starts, he accumulated 205 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss, nine interceptions including two returned for touchdowns, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 37 passes defended.

Leonard also played special teams in college, returning 37 punts for 577 yards and two touchdowns and 32 kickoffs for 2,145 yards and one major. During his junior and senior seasons, he earned first-team all-Conference USA honours as both a cornerback and a punt returner.